8 January 2007, by Sean Gillen

Larsson makes his mark as United scrape past Villa

Manchester United 2-1 Aston Villa (FA Cup Third Round)

An injury-time goal from substitute Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent Manchester United through to the next round at the expense of a spirited Aston Villa side at Old Trafford. Villa goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly’s late mistake gifted United the win, after Milan Baros had levelled for the visitors following debutant Henrik Larsson’s opening strike.

United manager Alex Ferguson shuffled his pack for the game, allowing Nemanja Vidic and Paul Scholes a rest from the squad, while goalkeeper Edwin van Der Sar dropped to the bench. Larsson, signed last month on loan from Helsingborgs, made his first appearance for the Reds in attack with Wayne Rooney.

The hosts started brightly, with Larsson showing some neat touches and linking up well with Rooney and Ronaldo. The Swede went close with two chances early on, first struggling to make the best of a headed chance, then turning his marker expertly before firing at Kiraly.

Although not at their best, United produced some slick build-up play at times, and shortly after Ronaldo crossed for Rooney to draw a good save from Kiraly, Larsson had the best chance of the half, shooting straight at the Hungarian goalkeeper having been put in on goal by Michael Carrick’s throughball.

Villa, despite offering little in the way of an attacking threat, managed to get to the break on level terms, but the second half began with United looking the only side likely to break the deadlock.

Larsson opens account

Ronaldo’s powerful run resulted in a wild shot that flew off target, before Larsson capped a dream debut by opening the scoring on 55 minutes. Ronaldo and Rooney were again involved in the build-up, with the ball breaking for Larsson inside the box, and the 35-year-old took a touch and shot in one swift movement to beat Kiraly with a clinical finish.

Ryan Giggs almost made it two just minutes later, but the Welshman was unlucky to see his 25-metre free-kick clip the top of the crossbar. Ronaldo then drove at the Villa defence from the inside left of the penalty area, but his shot flew into the side netting.

United’s pressure began to ease as the second half developed, and Villa created several chances in quick succession. Gary Cahill headed wide at the back post, before Isaac Osbourne found himself with a clear chance to equalise from 10 metres out, but was foiled by a good save from Kuszczak.

Having grown in ambition, the visitors drew level in the 73rd minute. Cahill’s attempted shot landed at the feet of substitute Baros, and the Czech drove a low shot into the bottom corner to give Villa hope of a replay.

United put pressure on the Villa defence in the final 15 minutes in search of a winning goal, but there were few good goalscoring opportunities until substitute Solskjaer struck in the second minute of injury time.

After Patrice Evra won the ball in midfield, Ronaldo cleverly touched the ball on to Rooney, who fed Solskjaer through the right channel, and the Norwegian’s drilled shot somehow slipped underneath Kiraly and trickled over the line to send the Red Devils through to the next round.

Man Utd:
Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (O'Shea 89), Giggs, Park (Fletcher 72), Rooney, Larsson (Solskjaer 78)
Yellow Cards: None

Aston Villa:
Kiraly, Hughes, Ridgewell, Cahill, Bouma, McCann, Osbourne, Petrov (Samuel 66), Barry, Angel (Baros 53), Agbonlahor
Yellow Cards: Cahill (19)

Goals:
[1-0] Larsson, 55
[1-1] Baros, 74
[2-1] Solskjaer, 90