Man United 5-2 Leicester (Oct 30, 2024) Match analysis

Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes scored twice each as Manchester United comfortably progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a breathless 5-2 win over Leicester City on Wednesday, their first game since the sacking of coach Erik ten Hag.

United's interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy had promised excitement and goals in his first game as manager and his players did not disappoint.

Casemiro opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he fired a shot from 20 yards into the top corner, and Alejandro Garnacho doubled the lead when he fired a shot into the net from a cross from Diogo Dalot.

Leicester's Bilal El Khannouss pulled one back but Fernandes restored United's two-goal lead when his free-kick hit a player in the wall and went into the net.

DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images

---

On a night when enthusiastic home fans shouted “Shoot!” Every time a United player was anywhere near Leicester's net, Casemiro completed his brace in the 39th minute when he headed the ball against the post and then buried the rebound with a direct strike.

Conor Coady opened the scoring for Leicester in first-half stoppage time, but the visitors' hopes were short-lived when Fernandes took advantage of a back pass, dribbled around the goalkeeper and scored his second in the 59th minute.

The result could have been even more lopsided as United's trio of goalscorers all missed by narrow margins and Amad Diallo stunned fans when he fired an overhead kick just wide in the second half.

United fans chanted Van Nistelrooy's name as he approached the Stretford End to applaud their efforts after the final whistle.

Ten Hag was sacked on Monday with the team sitting 14th in the Premier League standings, just one place and two points ahead of Leicester.

United are six-time League Cup winners and last won the trophy in 2022/23 with Ten Hag at the helm.

They continue their Premier League campaign at home against Chelsea on Sunday.