Soccer
United stroll past Derby
2009-02-15 20:35
On the scoresheet (Gallo Images)
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London - Manchester United's bid for a remarkable haul of five trophies in one season remains on course after Sunday's 4-1 win over Derby in the FA Cup fifth round.
Having already won the Club World Cup in December, Sir Alex Ferguson's side sit top of the Premier League, face Tottenham in the League Cup final and take on Inter Milan in the Champions League second round.
Now they are through to the FA Cup quarter-finals as well thanks to goals from Nani, Darron Gibson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Danny Welbeck at Pride Park.
Ferguson made seven changes to the side that won at West Ham last weekend, but that was little encouragement for their Championship opponents as United's starting line-up still included Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs.
United were took the lead in the 29th minute when Giggs slipped a pass to Nani on the edge of the Derby area. The Portuguese winger cut inside and lashed a superb strike past Stephen Bywater.
Gibson added a second goal in the 44th minute when he volleyed home from Ronaldo's deflected free-kick.
Ronaldo got on the scoresheet himself three minutes into the second half with a powerful header from Giggs' corner.
Miles Addison's 56th minute header was no consolation for Nigel Clough's Derby, who also lost to United in the League Cup semi-final earlier this season, and highly-rated young winger Welbeck curled home a sublime fourth in the 81st minute.