Shrewsbury (England): Manchester United provided some blessed relief to under-fire manager Louis van Gaal by powering into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-0 romp at League One (third-tier) Shrewsbury Town on Monday.
Louis van Gaal, the subject of fierce criticism following Thursday’s shock 2-1 Europa League first-leg defeat at little-known Danes Midtjylland, was given few worries four days later as United strolled to their first victory in four matches.
The visitors went 2-0 up through Chris Smalling and Juan Mata after a one-sided first half and a 61st-minute goal by Jesse Lingard made the fifth round tie safe.
United, who need to lift the trophy one more time to equal Arsenal’s record haul of 12 FA Cup triumphs, next host in-form West Ham United in the second week of March.
United went in front after 37 minutes when Morgan Schneiderlin won an aerial challenge outside the box and centre half Smalling, surprising the home defence by suddenly popping up in attack, drove the ball beyond keeper Jayson Leutwiler.
Mata left Leutwiler motionless on his line in first-half stoppage time when he dinked a direct free kick into the bottom corner of the net from 20 metres, prompting a wide grin from van Gaal in the dugout.
