By David Hobbs
February 19 2005

Quinton Fortune and Cristiano Ronaldo were on target for United as Manchester United secured a spot in the last eight of the FA Cup. Wayne Rooney seemed unfazed returning to Everton by an intimidating Goodison Park crowd.

United Cruise Past Everton

Everton 0

Manchester United 2
Fortune 23
Ronaldo 58

Manchester United were in cruise control as they saw off Everton 2-0 courtesy of a goal in each half to secure a spot in the Sixth Round of the competition.

Quinton Fortune opened the scoring midway through the first half and Cristiano Ronaldo added a second just before the hour mark to kill off the tie.

At certain points during the game, Wayne Rooney's dramatic return to Goodison Park was often bigger than the match itself with constant jeers from Toffees fans who are still angry at the youngster's move to Old Trafford. Rooney's poor treatment was forecast before the game and was reprehensible for a home fan throwing a missile onto the pitch, hitting United's Roy Carroll.

Carroll undeservedly got struck by an object threw by a member of the crowd that was probably aimed at Rooney, now leaving the FA to discipline the football club for the fan's idiotic actions. It was believed either a coin or a mobile phone struck the Northern Ireland international goalkeeper in the second half.

There was concern heading into the game that the dug-up pitch would seriously affect both team's style of play, but the players handled the surface well.

Sir Alex Ferguson did keep an eye on Wednesday's Champions League clash with AC Milan by taking off Roy Keane in the second period and by keeping winger Ryan Giggs fresh on the bench. David Moyes was without James Beattie and Tim Cahill for the clash.

Everton started well with Marcus Bent coming close from a set-piece Quinton Fortune scuffed away. 

The South African was then putting his fair bit of attacking work also, rising high to beat Tony Hibbert in the air and meet a pin-point Cristiano Ronaldo cross with a bullet point header.

Mikel Arteta later played a fine ball into the box for Marcus Bent to latch onto. Roy Carroll eventually smothered to ball to deny their best chance of the half.

After the break, United doubled their advantage just before the hour mark courtesy of a free-kick. Gabriel Heinze and Paul Scholes lined up to take the kick, and it was Scholes who hit a thunderbolt strike. The shot took a deflection off Leon Osman to the path of a poaching Cristiano Ronaldo, who guided home.

Things turned sour as Roy Carroll was on the receiving end of a missile thrown by a member of the crowd. Off the field problems turned into on the field problems with James McFadden picking up an injury.

Liam Miller replaced fellow Republic of Ireland international Roy Keane with 10 minutes remaining. Wayne Rooney had a late chance to add a 3rd goal, but Nigel Martyn ducked low to deny the striker.

The Red Devils are now into the last eight of the cup, and are looking sharp enough to retain the trophy they currently possess.

Final Score: Everton 0 - 2 Manchester United
Att: 38,664

Everton: N Martyn, T Hibbert, J Yobo, A Stubbs, G Naysmith, L Osman, L Carsley, M Arteta, K Kilbane, J McFadden (68 D Weir) , M Bent
Subs: R Wright, A Pistone, D Weir, G Plessis, J Vaughan

Manchester United: R Carroll, G Neville, W Brown, R Ferdinand, G Heinze, C Ronaldo, P Neville, R Keane, P Scholes, Q Fortune, W Rooney
Subs: T Howard, R Giggs, A Smith, L Miller, J Spector

Refereed By: R Styles