United's three card trick

It's rarely that a game is wrapped up within the first six minutes, but that's exactly what Manchester United did at Reading's Madejski Stadium on a thrilling Tuesday night.

Goals from Gabriel Heinze, Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left the Royals dazed during a scintillating burst which was made all the more remarkable when you consider Ronaldo, Rooney and Scholes were on the bench.

Reading fought back with goals from Dave Kitson and Leroy Lita and they almost completed an unlikely comeback in injury time when Brynjar Gunnarsson crashed against the bar.

Steve Coppell's courageous troops were unfortunate not to force extra-time, but it was that six minute period which decided the tie.

Like a prize fighter whose tactics are to batter his opponent into submission in the first round, United came out swinging from the opening bell. It seemed appropriate that local boxing hero Michael Sprott, whose jackhammer of a left hand knocked out Audley Harrison recently, was introduced to the crowd at half-time.

Football can be a fickle mistress - just ask Reading keeper Adam Federici. Just 24 hours after being voted The Player of the Fifth Round for his heroics in the original tie, the young Australian was left with his head in his hands after his terrible mistake handed United the lead after just two minutes.

With a number of fans still taking their seats, John O'Shea cut the ball back from the right flank to Heinze who drilled through Federici's hands. A cricket lover, the 22 year old's long barrier needs a lot of work.

The blitz continued in the fourth minute. Rio Ferdinand picked out the galloping Saha who chested the ball down before arrowing a powerful drive into the far corner from a seemingly impossible angle.

Reading's misery was threefold after six minutes through Solskjaer. Kieran Richardson ignored Saha's pleas for a pass to play in the baby-faced assassin and with just Federici to beat, he took his time before casually finding the bottom corner.

It was classic United - any late Reading fans stuck in traffic on the A33 which runs parallel to the Madejski might have been tempted to turn around had they had the radio on.

The Reading faithful had no answer to the United fans' chants of 'easy, easy'. But rather then throw in the white towel, the hosts gallantly fought back with former Everton midfielder John Oster a useful outlet on the right.

It was from his corner in the 23rd minute which fuelled the flames of an unlikely comeback. Ivar Ingimarsson flicked on at the near post to Kitson who lurked freely at the back post for a simple header.

The visitors responded when Saha twisted and turned Andre Bikey before forcing Federici into a smart save at the other end, but the remainder of the half belonged to the hosts.

Oster's tricks set up the returning Kevin Doyle but his header was comfortably held by Edwin Van Der Sar.

Steve Sidwell then sent Van Der Sar sprawling across the turf five minutes before the interval and the Dutch keeper had to be alert on the stroke of half-time to tip wide Ki-Hyeon Seol's strike from long range.

From the resulting Oster corner, Bikey's looping header looked to be looping into the United net but bounced just wide.

Reading continued to press when the second half resumed with Sidwell slicing wide after an adventurous break from Brynjar Gunnarsson.

Sidwell blazed another chance wide on 53 minutes after good work on the left wing by Seol.

Sir Alex Ferguson, perhaps a little unnerved by Reading's game retaliation, sent Wayne Rooney to warm up - a move greeted by loud cheers from the visiting fans.

With United's big guns limbering up, Ji-Sung Park nodded wide at the far post before Richardson concluded a surging run by planting a right foot shot towards the bottom corner which Federici kept out.

Reading set up a grandstand finale with seven minutes left when substitute Lita headed in Ulises De La Cruz's cross.

Gunnarson then rattled the United bar in the dying seconds as Reading valiantly tried to force extra-time.

Reading: Federici, Shorey, Sidwell, Gunnarsson, Doyle (Lita 71), Oster, Kitson, Ingimarsson, Seol (Little 68), Bikey, De La Cruz.

Subs not used: Hahnemann, Hunt, Sodje.

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Heinze, Ferdinand, Silvestre, Brown, Richardson, O'Shea, Park, Fletcher, Saha (Rooney 77), Solskjaer (Ronaldo 90).

Subs not used: Smith, Scholes, Kuszczak.

Referee: H Webb.

Assistants: G Ward and M Yerby.

Attendance: 23,821

Fourth official: C Foy.