Sanchez sets up 2 goals on Man United debut in FA Cup win
Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez, centre, controls the ball, during the FA Cup, fourth round soccer match between Yeovil Town and Manchester United at Huish Park, in Yeovil, England, Friday Jan. 26, 2018. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
YEOVIL, England — Alexis Sanchez set up two goals on a lively debut as Manchester United won 4-0 at fourth-tier side Yeovil in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday.
The Chile forward, who joined from Premier League rival Arsenal on Monday, created goals for striker Marcus Rashford and midfielder Ander Herrera before coming off with around 20 minutes remaining.
Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku added late goals in southwest England at modest Huish Park, which has a capacity below 10,000.
“He is a fantastic player,” Herrera said of Sanchez. “We are going to enjoy him, our fans are going to enjoy him and we are really happy for him.”
Near the end of the first half, Sanchez threaded a pass through for Rashford, who lost possession before regaining it and dinking the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Artur Krysiak.
United netted from a clinical break in the 61st. Released by Juan Mata, Sanchez teed up Herrera to score and in doing so earned the praise of his new coach Jose Mourinho.
“(Sanchez’s) choice for the counterattack for the second goal is the kind of choice that a player like Marcus (Rashford) is still too nervous to make,” Mourinho said. “So he will bring us this extra maturity and class.”
United was already cruising when the England international Lingard, who has been in fine form this season, raced through and drilled home in the 89th. The Belgium striker Lukaku tapped the fourth into an empty net during injury time.
United advanced to the fifth round with second-tier Sheffield Wednesday, which beat lackluster Reading 3-1 in the night’s other game.
