Zlatan fires as United books Chelsea showdown
Manchester United scraped through to the FA Cup quarter-finals after Zlatan Ibrahimovic got the winner in a 2-1 triumph at Blackburn Rovers on Monday (AEDT).
Jose Mourinho's substitutions worked like a charm as Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to combine for the winning goal and secure Manchester United's place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory at Blackburn Rovers.
United looked devoid of craft and decisiveness for much of the match at Ewood Park and such a situation forced Mourinho's hand in the second half. Pogba and Ibrahimovic duly showed why the Portuguese entrusted the visitor's fate to them, as the Frenchman set up the in-form striker for a 75th-minute winner.
Blackburn gave a fine account of itself in the first half and broke the deadlock with an exceptional goal inspired by Marvin Emnes and finished by Danny Graham.
United ensured the score was level at the break, as Marcus Rashford showed great composure to net his sixth goal of the season.
But that goal failed to bring about much of an improvement from United, though, and Mourinho - clearly unenthusiastic about the prospect of a replay - deployed Pogba and Ibrahimovic from the bench with just under 30 minutes to go.
Ibrahimovic then made the most of a Pogba pass 15 minutes from time to kill Blackburn's resolve once and for all, booking United's place in the last eight of the competition it won last season.
The win sets up a mouth watering quarter final for United against Chelsea, while non-league Lincoln City will visit the winner of Sutton United's clash with Arsenal.
