Rooney equals Man Utd record in easy win; Arsenal leave it late

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Wayne Rooney of Manchester United during the English League Cup Quarter Final match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester on November 30, 2016.  Wayne Rooney equalled Manchester United's all-time goal-scoring on January 7, 2017. Pic Simon Bellis Sportimage(Credit Image: © SportimageCal Sport Media)

Wayne Rooney of Manchester United during the English League Cup Quarter Final match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester on November 30, 2016. Wayne Rooney equalled Manchester United’s all-time goal-scoring on January 7, 2017. Pic Simon Bellis Sportimage(Credit Image: © SportimageCal Sport Media)

LONDON: Wayne Rooney equalled Manchester United’s all-time goal-scoring record while Olivier Giroud scored another late goal as Arsenal joined them in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Rooney moved alongside Bobby Charlton on 249 United goals with the opener in his side’s 4-0 win over Championship side Reading.

Giroud’s late strike gave Arsenal a 2-1 win at Preston North End but five Premier League sides – Everton, Stoke, West Brom, Bournemouth and Swansea – went out.

And non-league teams Lincoln City and Sutton United forced replays against Ipswich and AFC Wimbledon respectively.

Rooney has cut a frustrated figure at times this season as he has struggled to lock down a regular place in the starting line-up.

But the England captain made no mistake after just seven minutes to set United on their way and equal Charlton’s longstanding record.

“It is a proud moment,” Rooney said. “To do it at such a massive club like Manchester United, I am hugely honoured and it is really proud moment for me.

“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.

Rooney said he now hoped to set the record on his own.

“You want to do records in front of your home fans and we have got two home games coming up and hopefully I can get the next one in one of those,” he said.

Marcus Rashford scored twice and Anthony Martial got the other goal as United eased past the Championship side.

Arsenal fell behind at Preston when Callum Robinson scored after seven minutes but Aaron Ramsey levelled just after half-time and Giroud won it with a minute left in the 90 minutes.

Of the five Premier League teams to go out, three of them went out to lower league opposition.

Bournemouth were upended 3-0 at League One Millwall while Stoke and West Brom lost to Championship clubs; Stoke beaten 2-0 at home by Wolves and West Brom going down 2-1 to Derby, for whom Tom Ince won it with a superb free kick.

“It was a fantastic performance all round,” Ince said. “It’s always a big test when you come to a Premier League side, especially when you’re away from home, but I thought we played ever so well.”

Hull beat Swansea 2-0 to give Marco Silva victory in his first match in charge at the expense of new Swansea manager Paul Clement.

And league champions Leicester came from behind to win 2-1 at Everton, much to the delight of manager Claudio Ranieri.

“I’m very pleased,” he said. “We made a good match against a big team who we lost to at home in the league. I loved our reaction to conceding a goal.”

Southampton needed a last-minute equalizer to clinch a 2-2 draw at Norwich, while Watford beat Burton Albion 2-0 and Sunderland and Burnley will replay after a 0-0 draw.

Theo Robinson scored both goals as non-league side Lincoln earned themselves a replay with a 2-2 draw at Ipswich.

“My players were heroic for me today, absolutely heroic,” Lincoln manager Danny Cowley said.

“There was a tinge of disappointment at the end, but the overriding emotion in the dressing room is one of pride.”

Sutton United will join them in the draw for the fourth round after they held AFC Wimbledon to a 0-0 draw.

But Stourbridge, Eastleigh and Barrow were all beaten.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham are all in action on Sunday while Manchester City beat West Ham 5-0 on Friday evening. – dpa