James puts United into Carabao Cup fourth round

James strokes home the winning penalty

(Photo: Getty Images)

Daniel James struck the winner as Manchester United beat Rochdale 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday. The 21-year-old started the match on the bench, but came on in place of Tahith Chong on the hour mark as Ole Gunnar Solskjær's side sought to open the scoring.

Striker Mason Greenwood, after a quick recovery from tonsillitis that kept him out of the loss to West Ham at the weekend, found the net just eight minutes later. However, Rochdale were back on level terms eight minutes after that, thanks to 16-year-old right-back Luke Matheson.


For the second season in a row, United's opening match in the Carabao Cup went to penalties, although this time they made no mistake as Sergio Romero saved Rochdale's second effort from Jimmy Keohane, which allowed Welsh winger James to step up for the winning kick. His shot was just out of reach of 'Dale goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, sending United straight into the draw for the fourth round.

Their ball was the 12th to be drawn and saw United given a tough fixture away to Chelsea, who went through with a 7-1 win over Grimsby. It will be the two sides' sixth meeting in the League Cup, the most recent one coming at the same stage in the 2012/13 competition, when Chelsea won 5-4 after extra time. Wales legend Ryan Giggs scored twice that day, including the final goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 120th minute.

Confirmation of our fourth-round tie in the #CarabaoCup. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/XLC9UiKWM7

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 25, 2019

James will likely return to the starting line-up for United's next game at home to Arsenal in the league on Monday night. With Greenwood showing no ill effects after his bout with tonsillitis, there is less of a need to rush Anthony Martial back into the team following his injury in the game against Crystal Palace last month. United's strike force may also not be depleted for as long as previously feared, with Marcus Rashford now expected to return to action before October's international break.

On Monday, Wales midfielder Dylan Levitt was left out of Neil Wood's under-23 side for the trip to Aston Villa. Reduced to 10 men thanks to the sending-off of Di'Shon Bernard, United lost the match 4-1, bringing to an end their unbeaten start to the Premier League 2 Division 2 campaign. As a result, they slip to second in the table behind West Ham, now the only side yet to lose a game so far this season. Their next match sees them take on Norwich on Friday night.