By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Manchester, England

Midfielder Tom Cleverley scored his first Manchester United goal as the Red Devils escaped with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at Old Trafford to secure a place in the Capital One Cup fourth round.

The game saw the return of Wayne Rooney from a two-month layoff due to a injured thigh, and Darren Fletcher, who played a full 90 minutes on his first start after recovering from a chronic bowel problem 10 months ago.

Brazilian midfielder Anderson opened up scoring for United, picking the ball 40 yards out and ran towards the Newcastle box. He then neatly maneuvered himself into a shooting position before unleashing a kick that went past Rob Elliot's right-hand post to give United a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute.

Cleverley should have scored after 34 minutes when he strode onto Javier Hernandez's lay-off but he sent the ball flying wide.

However, Cleverley atoned for his mistake in the 58th minute when he drilled in a goal from a pass by Danny Welbeck for his first score wearing a United jersey.

Papiss Cisse gave United a scare when he followed up his first goal of the season by crashing a late overhead kick against the bar in the 62nd minute to trim the gap to 2-1.

United's defense then stepped up in the dying minutes to cap its fifth straight win after a defeat at Everson and seal a berth in the last 16.

Sparked by two goals from Theo Walcott, Arsenal unleashed a searing scoring barrage in the second half at Emirates Stadium to beat Coventry, 6-1, and reach the fourth round of the event.

New acquisition Olivier Giroud scored his first goal for the club in the 39th minute and had a chance to add another but blew a penalty kick in the 51st minute.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain then started the scoring assault with a goal in the 57th minute while Andrei Arshavin, Walcott and Ignasi Miquel added four more scores. Callum Ball delivered the only Coventry goal in the 78th minute.

United faces Chelsea while Arsenal clashes with Reading in the fourth round that will be played Oct. 29.

Also advancing to the fourth round were Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, Reading and eight-time Capital One champion Liverpool.

 

Manchester United Beats Newcastle, Secures Place in Capital One 4th Round