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Man Utd top Everton
19/02/2005 22:37 - (SA)
London - Wayne Rooney overcame a hostile Goodison Park reception and relished his return to Everton as his Manchester United won 2-0 in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.
On Rooney's first appearance back at Everton since his move to Old Trafford last summer, cup holders United won thanks to goals from Quinton Fortune and Cristiano Ronaldo in a match blighted by missiles thrown onto the pitch.
Rooney did not let the stinging reception from the home crowd get to him despite being targeted by a missile from the crowd as United showed their class.
Everton had matched the visitors in the opening exchanges but United showed greater desire to win and stepped up a level, scoring in the 23rd minute.
Portugal winger Ronaldo created the goal, charging past Kevin Kilbane and Gary Naysmith before curling an excellent cross in for South Africa midfielder Fortune who rose early to score with a powerful header.
On 58 minutes, Paul Scholes took a low, hard free kick which was deflected by the Everton wall. Everton goalkeeper Nigel Martyn did well to adjust and parry the ball, but Ronaldo reacted quickest to score from six yards.
What appeared to be a bottle top was earlier thrown at Rooney but Manchester United goalkeeper Roy Carroll was struck by an object hurled from the stand in the 70th minute and fourth official Mark Clattenburg handed a mobile phone to the police, one of several items thrown towards the pitch.
Rooney almost found the target in the last seconds but Martyn did well to parry his shot.
Elsewhere, Arsenal were stunned by Sheffield United with the Blades forcing a replay after a 1-1 draw at Highbury thanks to a last minute penalty.
League One side Brentford managed a 2-2 draw at Premiership strugglers Southampton, Championship club Leicester pulled off a last-minute 2-1 victory at Charlton while Bolton won 1-0 at home to Fulham.
Brentford shocked Premiership strugglers Southampton at St Mary's as the rampant Bees forced a replay at Griffin Park.
Bees boss Martin Allen said: "They showed great character and it was a tremendous result. They gave everything for the team to come from 2-0 down."
Veteran former England striker Dion Dublin headed in a last-minute goal from a corner for Leicester to leave their hosts Charlton shell-shocked at The Valley.
Leicester took a deserved lead when Greece defender Nikos Dabizas headed in a free kick on 38 minutes.
Their joy lead lasted just seven minutes before South Africa striker Sean Bartlett levelled affairs against the run of play with a skilful strike.
A 12th-minute strike by Kevin Davies was enough to send Bolton into the quarter-finals at the Cottagers' expense.
"It was not a classic by any stretch of the imagination but it was a fantastic result for us," said Bolton boss Sam Allardyce.
- AFP
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