SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2019 15 Solskjaer’s winning start at Man Utd continues in FA Cup Romelu Lukaku sinks Reading to give Solskjaer fifth Manchester United win AFP | London Reading goalkeeper Anssi Jaak- deep into stoppage time at the kola the wrong way. end of the first-half. le Gunnar Solskjaer en- Sanchez and Lukaku were From Sanchez’s through-ball, joyed a fifth successive both making their first United the onrushing Lukaku rounded Owin since taking over as starts under Solskjaer and the Jaakkola to score from a tight interim manager of Manches- pair combined to make it 2-0 angle. ter United when his side beat Reading 2-0 in the third round English FA Cup of the FA Cup at Old Trafford Bournemouth 1 - 3 Brighton yesterday. Burnley 1 - 0 Barnsley The former United striker had already guided the Red Devils Manchester United 2 - 0 Reading to a run of four Premier League Sheffield Wednesday 0 - 0 Luton Town victories since being appointed Shrewsbury Town 1 - 1 Stoke City coach after Jose Mourinho was sacked last month. West Bromwich 1 - 0 Wigan Athletic That winning sequence con- West Ham United 2 - 0 Birmingham City tinued against second-tier strug- Accrington Stanley 1 - 0 Ipswich Town glers Reading, with the third round marking the entry into the Aston Villa 0 - 3 Swansea City FA Cup, the world’s oldest senior Bolton Wanderers 5 - 2 Walsall knockout football competition, Brentford 1 - 0 Oxford United of England’s top-flight clubs. Romelu Lukaku rounds Reading’s keeper Anssi Jaakkola and slots the ball home for Manchester United’s second goal Chelsea 2 - 0 Nottingham Forest United, last season’s losing finalists, were 2-0 up before played wasn’t the best,” Solsk- ed came when Alexis Sanchez minute. Derby County 2 - 2 Southampton half-time, thanks to goals from jaer told the BBC. suffered a recurrence of a ham- United initially had a goal dis- Everton 2 - 1 Lincoln City Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku “They controlled it in the first string problem. allowed for offside against Fred Fleetwood Town 2 - 3 AFC Wimbledon but Reading had their chances five minutes and we weren’t “I hope it’s not going to be too but referee Stuart Attwell, after against a still suspect defence, up to speed. But we made nine bad - it’s the same hamstring a lengthy consultation with the Gillingham 1 - 0 Cardiff City although Solskjaer had made changes, so I made it hard for that he’s been having trouble video assistant referee, award- Middlesbrough 5 - 0 Peterborough United nine changes to his team. the boys because they hadn’t with, but we’ll see,” said Sol- ed the home side a penalty for played together too much but skjaer. a foul on Mata in the build- Spanish La Liga ‘Wasn’t the best’ we got the goals and managed Mata gave United, 12-times up. “You can’t ask for more than to get through.” winners of the Cup, the lead The Spanish midfielder then Real Valladolid 0 - 1 Rayo Vallecano going through but the way we The only downside for Unit- in unusual fashion in the 22nd scored from the spot, sending Alavés 2 - 1 Valencia CF Tsurenko upsets Thisara’s 140 in vain as New Zealand snatch ODI series AFP | Mount Maunganui, New Zealand Osaka in Brisbane Pakistan, first innings, 177 rollicking maiden centu- South Africa, first innings A ry by Sri Lanka’s Thisara (overnight 382-6) Perera was ultimately in vain as A. Markram b Shan Masood 78 New Zealand wrapped up the D. Elgar c Sarfraz Ahmed b Moham- one-day series with a 21-run vic- mad Amir 20 tory in the second ODI at Mount H. Amla b Mohammad Abbas 24 Maunganui. T. de Bruyn c Babar Azam b Shaheen With Sri Lanka chasing New Afridi 13 Zealand’s 319 for seven, they F. du Plessis c Sarfraz Ahmed b were on the ropes at 128 for sev- Shaheen Afridi 103 en when Perera opened up. T. Bavuma c Sarfraz Ahmed b He faced 74 deliveries and Shaheen Afridi 75 cracked 13 sixes and eight fours Q. de Kock c Asad Shafiq b before he was the last wicket to Tim Seifert catches Asela Gunaratne short of his crease Mohammad Amir 59 fall and Sri Lanka were out for V. Philander b Mohammad Amir 16 298 with 22 balls remaining. land attack with brute force. cards Matt Henry had Perera K. Rabada b Mohammad Amir 11 Sri Lanka reached 112 for two He made 58 in a 75-run stand caught by Trent Boult at long- D. Steyn c Fakhar Zaman b Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine plays a shot during her semi-final match against when Ish Sodhi captured the with Lasith Malinga for the on. Shaheen Afridi 13 Naomi Osaka of Japan wicket of Kusal Mendis for 20 to eighth wicket, and scored 45 of Opener Danushka Gunathila- D. Olivier not out 10 which would be a record high trigger a collapse which saw five the 51 runs for the ninth wicket ka played his part at the top of Extras (b5, lb1, nb3) 9 Nishikori for a player from Japan. wickets fall in six overs. with Lakshan Sandakan. the order with 71 but elsewhere Total (124.1 overs) 431 • ‘’If I’m being really frank, But Perera refused to give up But when an seemingly im- the Sri Lankan batsmen failed powers through to I just feel like I had like the as he bludgeoned the New Zea- possible victory seemed on the to fire. Brisbane final worst attitude today,’’ the 21-year-old Osaka said. ‘’I feel AP | Brisbane like I didn’t really know how to cope with not playing well.’’ She dropped two service Unstoppable Andreescu to face Goerges in Auckland he’s ranked No. 5 in the games in first and went down Sworld, will enter the sea- an early break in the second AFP | Auckland, New Zealand She has surprised even her- son-opening major as a reign- but had chances to get even in self with the way her baseline ing Grand Slam champion, and the sixth game, when she had anadian teen Bianca An- power, drop shot finesse and all is trying not to sulk. two break points but commit- Cdreescu continued her round athleticism have come A lot has happened for ted a string of unforced errors fairy-tale run through the WTA together. Naomi Osaka since she beat and Tsurenko held for 4-2. Classic yesterday, stunning “I guess Auckland brings out Serena Williams in the US Japanese flags were still third seed Hsieh Su-Wei to set the best in me. I don’t know Open final last September, and waving in the crowd at Pat up a final against defending what’s going on really,” she said she’s still coming to terms with Rafter Arena for the next champion Julia Gorges. after defeating Hsieh. it. Mostly, it’s the expectations. match, when No. 2-seeded The 18-year-old qualifier’s “What’s really important for She has reached the semifi- Kei Nishikori defeated Jeremy 6-3, 6-3 semi-final triumph fol- me is to stay in the present mo- nals or better at four of her last Chardy 6-2, 6-2 in 66 minutes. lowed victories over two former ment and I’ve been doing that five tournaments but hasn’t ‘’Felt very good physically world number ones, the now all week and I’m beyond grate- added another title. and, tennis-wise, I think it was number three Caroline Wozni- ful right now.” A 6-2, 6-4 loss to No. perfect,’’ Nishikori said. acki and seven-time Grand Slam Bianca Andreescu of Canada hits a return during her WTA ASB Classic semi-final With a place booked in the 27-ranked Leisa Tsurenko He’ll play either fourth-seed- champion Venus Williams. match against Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan final, Andreescu is also eyeing a yesterday cost second-seeded ed Daniil Medvedev in today’s In contrast, second-seed Go- seeded player all week. career after arriving in Auck- qualifying spot in the Australian Osaka a place in the Brisbane final, where he’s hoping to erges who beat Slovakian Vik- For the unflappable Andrees- land with the simple aim of Open main draw because her International final and a move claim his first title since Mem- toria Kuzmova 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) in cu, ranked 152nd in the world, it getting through the qualifying ranking is not high enough for up to the No. 3 world ranking - phis in 2016. her semi-final has not faced one is the first final of her fledgling tournament. direct entry.