Rooney equals record as United beats Reading 4-0 in FA Cup

In all-Premier League matches, Ahmed Musa scored twice as Leicester fought back from a goal down to defeat Everton 2-1, while in the battle of the new managers, Marco Silva saw his Hull side get the better of Paul Clement’s Swansea 2-0.

Silva, appointed on Tuesday in place of the fired Mike Phelan, would have noted the large number of empty seats at Hull’s KCOM Stadium with home fans staying away in protest against the club’s owners.

Non-league sides Sutton United and Lincoln City earned replays but there was no fairytale for the lowest-ranked team in the competition Stourbridge as it went down at Wycombe 2-1.

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MANCHESTER UNITED 4, READING 0

Rooney’s latest milestone — he is the record scorer for England — came in front of Old Trafford fans who have adored him, on and off, since he joined as a teenage prodigy from Everton in 2004.

“It is a really proud moment for me,” Rooney said. “It was not something I could have imagined. You don’t think that far ahead, but I have been at this club a long time, it is a huge part of my life, and it is an honour to be up there alongside Sir Bobby.”

United manager Jose Mourinho, who won the FA Cup when in charge of Chelsea in 2007, was effusive in his praise of Rooney.

“A more special day will arrive,” he said. “It was great but I want one more goal. He is an amazing guy in the group and we all want him to do that. To have Wayne as the top scorer in a club like this is magnificent for him.”

The game will be not be so fondly remembered by former United defender Jaap Stam, whose Reading side he coaches was outclassed.

Rooney set up Anthony Martial for 2-0 not long after he scored the opener.

United, winning for the eighth consecutive game in all competitions, added two more in quick succession after the break through Marcus Rashford, his second coming after a mistake from goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

PRESTON NORTH END 1, ARSENAL 2

Arsenal preserved manager Arsene Wenger’s feat of never having lost a third-round match, but the Gunners did it the hard way.

After their dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Bournemouth in midweek, Arsenal started slow again as second-tier Preston fully deserved its halftime lead.

But whatever words Wenger barked during the break, they had an immediate effect with Ramsey rifling in an equalizer 50 seconds after the restart.

Arsenal, 11-times FA Cup winners, six of which have come under Wenger’s long reign, dominated after that but had to wait until two minutes from time to seal victory through Giroud.

EVERTON 1, LEICESTER 2

A turgid first half at Goodison Park was followed by an entertaining second as Leicester showed the mettle that made it English champion last season.

It fell behind to Romelu Lukaku’s goal on 53 minutes but Musa’s equalizer was a rebound after he struck the post, and his second goal five minutes later was a fine finish after he played a one-two with Danny Drinkwater.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1, DERBY COUNTY 2

Tom Ince, son of former England midfielder Paul Ince, struck a fine winner to upset top-flight West Brom. The hosts led through a Matt Phillips long-range strike but Derby hit back in the second half as Darren Bent levelled and Ince curled home a superb free kick.

MILLWALL 3, BOURNEMOUTH 0

Bournemouth made 11 changes from its last game and suffered an embarrassing defeat against a side in ninth place in League One.

Justin Palmer, The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Rooney equals record as United beats Reading 4-0 in FA Cup

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