Manchester United defeated AFC Bournemouth 3-1 at Old Trafford to seal their place in the UEFA Europa League Group stage.
United ended an otherwise lackluster first half performance with a brilliant team goal as Anthony Martial and Juan Mata combined down the left before Martial released a low cross into the box which was fired into the goal by an unmarked Wayne Rooney, thanks to a vital dummy from youngster Marcus Rashford.
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Goals from Rashford and substitute Ashley Young seemed to have concluded a perfect night for the home side before an own goal from Chris Smalling in stoppage time denied keeper David de Gea the Golden Glove.
The Red Devils are now set to face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium, with Manager Louis van Gaal promising to bring the cup home for the fans.
Here are the player ratings from the match:
Manchester United
David de Gea: 6/10
The Red Devils keeper was undisturbed for most parts of the game with the Spaniard having very little to do. There wasn’t much that De Gea could do when his teammate Chris Smalling scored an own goal in the dying minutes of the game.
Antonio Valencia: 7/10
Valencia was solid defensively and was brilliant going forward. The winger turned full-back showed some exceptional glimpses of skill. The Ecuadorian also had an outrageous attempt on goal which was kept out only by a brilliant save from Federici.
Chris Smalling: 6/10
Smalling did not face much trouble from any of the Bournemouth forwards and the centre-back did a good job helping his team build from the back. That unfortunate own goal will surely haunt the Englishman for quite some time.
Daley Blind: 5/10
Blind’s delivery from corners was average. Defensively, the centre-half didn’t really have much to do. The Dutchman was quite comfortable in possession and always picked out the right passes to find his teammates.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson: 6/10
Borthwick-Jackson was quick on the left flank and was lively throughout the ninety minutes. The academy graduate did well to keep Matt Ritchie silent in the game. The youngster also delivered a few good crosses into the box.
Michael Carrick: 6/10
The 34-year-old midfielder missed a golden opportunity to give his side an early lead when he failed to make contact with Wayne Rooney’s brilliantly lobbed free-kick. The veteran made an outrageous attempt from outside the box, only to be denied by the crossbar.
Jesse Lingard: 6.5/10
Lingard had an unusually silent first half but the young winger burst upon the scene after the break. The youth academy product dueled well with Daniels. The youngster pressed quite well, winning possession back for his team in crucial areas. Lingard also supplied a few good crosses.
Juan Mata: 7/10
Mata was involved in the build-up to the first goal as he played a sublime one-two with Martial who then supplied the ball to Rooney. The Spaniard was unlucky as he was denied a clear penalty in the second half.
Wayne Rooney: 8.5/10
Rooney got the first goal of the match with a calm finish after a sublime build-up. The Englishman dictated the flow of the game well with from his newly assigned deeper position. The skipper showed exceptional work rate and defensive ability. He bagged his second assist with a fabulous aerial ball to Ashley young.
Anthony Martial: 7/10
Martial combined well with Mata on the left to set up Rooney for the first goal of the game. The Frenchman was quick on the wing and was a nightmare for the Bournemouth defence.
Marcus Rashford: 8.5/10
Marcus Rashford showed great presence of mind as he left the ball for Rooney with a dummy for the first goal of the game. The youngster caused all kinds of trouble in the Bournemouth box. Rashford got a well-deserved goal as he smashed the ball past Federici in the second half.
Substitutes
Ashley Young: 7.5/10
Young came on as a substitute for Anthony Martial in the 75th minute and didn’t take long to make his mark on the game. The Englishman timed his run to perfection to receive a fantastic aerial ball from Rooney. With only the keeper to beat, Young made no mistakes as he slotted the ball into the goal.
Memphis Depay: 4/10
Depay replaced Marcus Rashford in the 79th minute. With not much time left, the Dutchman struggled to have an impact on the game. He also missed a good chance to score as he headed the ball wide.
Ander Herrera: 6/10
Ander Herrera replaced fellow Spaniard Juan Mata in the 75th minute, taking his place in central midfield. Herrera provided some fresh legs with extra pace in the middle of the park.
Bournemouth
Adam Federici: 7/10
Federici made a great fingertip save to keep Antonio Valencia’s effort out. He also saved Mata’s effort from close range. The Bournemouth keeper was quite aware and vigilant during the game, helping his side keep the score manageable.
Simon Francis: 5/10
The 31-year-old had a difficult evening trying to cope with the pace of Martial. His distribution during the game was below-par and he struggled throughout the game.
Tommy Elphick: 6/10
Elphick too was one of the defenders to be tormented by the quick and skillful Anthony Martial. The veteran defender did make a few good blocks to keep the Red Devils from scoring, but ultimately he couldn’t do much to prevent his side’s defeat.
Steve Cook: 5/10
Cook was called upon to make a few good blocks and interceptions right after the break as a revitalised Manchester United side tried to step their offensive game up. The centre-back's crucial block deflected Mata’s shot, preventing the Cherries from conceding another goal.
Charlie Daniels: 6/10
Daniels was alert and he did well to keep Lingard silent in the game. It was due to the full-back’s presence that Lingard began to drift towards a more central position. His challenges were perfectly timed.
Matt Ritchie: 4/10
The Scotsman had very little impact on the game as he struggled on the right flank. After a fairly uneventful first half, Ritchie made absolutely no contribution to the play. The winger could only earn a single off-target attempt to his name.
Dan Gosling: 5/10
Dan Gosling was the only change made to the side that Eddie Howe named on Sunday as Harry Arter was out with an Achilles problem. Gosling started the second half brightly but failed to keep his shot down when he faced pressure from Lingard.
Andrew Surman: 4/10
Andrew Surman carelessly gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area after he bundled Rashford over. The midfielder was nowhere to be seen afterwards and kept on losing possession to Carrick and Rooney.
Marc Pugh: 6/10
Pugh was active in the game from the very beginning as he injected pace on the left flank. He had a shot blocked by Valencia. The winger was subbed off in the 66th minute for Max Gradel.
Callum Wilson: 6/10
Callum Wilson was agonisingly isolated from his teammates for most parts of the game. But early in the second half, the Englishman combined well with King and unleashed a shot, only to see it deflected by Smalling.
Joshua King: 5/10
King combined well with Callum Chambers to help create a rare chance for his teammate. He closed United down well as he tried to win back possession for his side. The forward was substituted by Benik Afobe in the 67th minute.
Substitutes
Max Gradel: 6/10
Gradel earned his side a late consolation goal with the last kick of the game after his shot took a wicked deflection off Smalling to beat De Gea.
Benik Afobe: 5/10
Afobe flicked a wonderful ball towards Wilson, putting him one-on-one with De Gea but the latter just couldn’t time his run right and was caught offside.
Lewis Grabban: 6/10
Lewis Grabban was brought on for Callum Wilson in the 79th minute. The substitute contributed in the build-up to the own goal as he whipped the ball into the danger zone, calling De Gea out to parry his effort.
