Soccer
United on course for quintuple
2009-03-07 21:20
London - Carlos Tevez scored twice as Manchester United kept their bid to win five trophies this season on track with a crushing 4-0 win away to Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals here Saturday.
They joined Chelsea in the last four after their English title rivals had earlier on Saturday defeated second-tier Coventry City 2-0.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson didn't even bother to bring star winger Cristiano Ronaldo to London for the all top-flight clash at Craven Cottage and left Dimitar Berbatov on the bench.
Argentina striker Tevez was drafted in alongside Brazilian Anderson as United, seven points clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League and in the last 16 of the Champions League, continued their quest to add the FA Cup to the FIFA Club World Cup and English League Cup they'd already won this season.
Tevez put United in front in the 20th minute when he headed in from close range after England striker Wayne Rooney had flicked on a corner.
And 15 minutes later the former West Ham player doubled United's lead with a brilliant solo goal.
Tevez cut in from the left and left Fulham's Dickson Etuhu on the turf before bending a superb right-foot strike into the top corner and away from Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Rooney added a third early in the second-half when be beat Schwarzer with a precisely-placed shot into the far corner and South Korea's Park Ji-Sung set the seal on victory with a goal nine minutes from time.
Earlier Chelsea made it five wins out of five under their Dutch temporary manager Guus Hiddink.
Didier Drogba put the visitors ahead in the 15th minute when he made the most of some hesitancy in the Championship side's defence.
Chelsea, whose team included Ashley Cole after the England defender was arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour on Thursday, had to wait until 17 minutes from time for another goal against 1987 Cup winners Coventry.
But there was no denying the class of Chelsea's second when it came, Brazil defender Alex finishing off a sweeping move.
Everton are at home to Middlesbrough in another all top-flight last eight clash on Sunday when Arsenal, who are a round behind, face Championship side Burnley, who knocked the Gunners out of the League Cup in December.