Manchester United easily reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory at Derby County.
The visitors almost snatched the lead in the 15th minute when Park Ji-Sung lunged at the far post to get to a cross from Nani, but goalkeeper Stephen Bywater somehow touched the ball across goal and out for a corner.
Nani eventually got the opening goal after 29 minutes as the Portuguese winger drifted in from the flank before firing an unstoppable 20-yard effort into the top corner.
Cristiano Ronaldo had an effort ruled out because of offside in the 37th minute, although the linesman raised his flag so late that he was already celebrating with his teammates.
However, the lead finally doubled a minute before half-time when Ronaldo’s free-kick hit the wall and broke kindly for Darron Gibson to volley home past Bywater.
The result was put beyond doubt three minutes into the second period when Ronaldo headed in a third from a Ryan Giggs corner.
Derby did snatch a lifeline when defender Miles Addison guided home a header to pull one back for Derby almost immediately.
But substitute Danny Welbeck wrapped it up nine minutes from time as he curled a sumptuous fourth past Bywater's outstretched hand.
United were joined in the next round by Everton, who made it into the quarterfinals for the first time in seven years with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
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The visitors almost snatched the lead in the 15th minute when Park Ji-Sung lunged at the far post to get to a cross from Nani, but goalkeeper Stephen Bywater somehow touched the ball across goal and out for a corner.
Nani eventually got the opening goal after 29 minutes as the Portuguese winger drifted in from the flank before firing an unstoppable 20-yard effort into the top corner.
Cristiano Ronaldo had an effort ruled out because of offside in the 37th minute, although the linesman raised his flag so late that he was already celebrating with his teammates.
However, the lead finally doubled a minute before half-time when Ronaldo’s free-kick hit the wall and broke kindly for Darron Gibson to volley home past Bywater.
The result was put beyond doubt three minutes into the second period when Ronaldo headed in a third from a Ryan Giggs corner.
Derby did snatch a lifeline when defender Miles Addison guided home a header to pull one back for Derby almost immediately.
But substitute Danny Welbeck wrapped it up nine minutes from time as he curled a sumptuous fourth past Bywater's outstretched hand.
United were joined in the next round by Everton, who made it into the quarterfinals for the first time in seven years with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa.
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