Cambridge United goalkeeper Chris Dunn (L) challenges Manchester United's Robin van Persie as he shoots on goal during their FA Cup fourth round match at Old Trafford in Manchester Tuesday. — Reuters LONDON — Manchester United reached the FA Cup fifth round and avoided any further embarrassment against stubborn fourth-tier side Cambridge United with a 3-0 replay win at Old Trafford Tuesday that did little to excite its fans. After drawing 0-0 at Cambridge, which was promoted from the minor leagues last season, United eventually made its superiority tell with goals from Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo and James Wilson, although it was a largely labored display. Louis van Gaal's side, which almost fell behind in the first minute when Cambridge striker Tom Elliott hit the post, will next play third-tier Preston North End, which beat cup specialist Sheffield United 3-1 away in their fourth round replay. Second-tier Fulham flirted with an upset against Premier League visitor Sunderland after taking a first-half lead, but was eventually beaten 3-1 after conceding three times in the last half-hour at Craven Cottage. Cambridge, the lowest ranked team to reach the fourth round, was already big winner having guaranteed itself a bumper payday of about one million pounds ($1.52 million) from gate receipts and TV money — a huge sum for a team at its level. The Cambridge chairman said its mighty windfall would be spent on building new toilets at its run-down Abbey Stadium. Any hopes it had of producing one of the biggest shocks in cup history, however, were flushed down the pan. It had a great chance to stun its illustrious opponent after one minute when Elliott raced on to a poor ball from Daley Blind, but his curling effort struck the post and Cambridge's resistance quickly wilted. United midfielder Marouane Fellaini headed an Angel Di Maria cross back towards Mata who poked it in off the bar after 25 minutes and Rojo scored his first for the club when he headed in a deft cross from Robin van Persie just past the half-hour. Substitute James Wilson fired in left-footed from the edge of the box to round off the win after 74 minutes in an efficient display where again the result trumped the performance. “We have done what we had to,” Van Gaal told the BBC. “Tonight, I don't think we played a very good match. But it is always difficult against a defensive team. We could have done better but I am pleased with the result.” Sunderland fell behind to a close-range Hugo Rodallega goal for Fulham after 28 minutes but a Marcus Bettinelli own goal, Ricky Alvarez strike and Jordi Gomez penalty put them through. Schalke holds 10-man Bayern Bayern Munich remained winless in the second half of the Bundesliga season after holding on with 10 men to earn a 1-1 draw with Schalke Tuesday. The defending champion retained its eight-point lead over Wolfsburg, which clinched a late 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt. Wolfsburg beat Bayern 4-1 Friday but needed a late equalizer from Kevin de Bruyne to escape with a point. Bayern lost Jerome Boateng to a red card in the 17th minute and was lucky not to fall behind as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer easily caught the resulting penalty from Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting. Arjen Robben put Bayern ahead in the 67th but Benedikt Hoewedes equalized five minutes later. Also, Borussia Moenchengladbach beat Freiburg 1-0 and Hannover and Mainz drew 1-1. Bayern dropped points at home for the first time this season, while Schalke stayed fourth. — Agencies
