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| Anthony Martial had only scored twice before the EFL Cup tie, therefore doubling his tally this season |
Manchester United eased into the EFL Cup semi-finals as they beat West Ham with manager Jose Mourinho absent from the Old Trafford dugout.
The Portuguese, given a one-match touchline ban before the game, stayed out of view as United set up a last-four tie against Hull City.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic clipped in the opening goal inside two minutes before former United youngster Ashley Fletcher equalised as he pounced on David de Gea's error.
Match Highlights
Anthony Martial re-established the home side's lead shortly after half-time, drilling Henrikh Mkhitaryan's pass low into the bottom corner.
The France international stroked in Antonio Valencia's low cross after a well-worked team move, with Ibrahimovic adding the gloss by tapping in with virtually the last kick of the game.
Mourinho will have been pleased with his side's fluent attacking display, and even happy enough to bring on substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger for his first game since March.
Absent Mourinho still eyeing League Cup record
Mourinho claimed his first honour in English football when he led Chelsea to the 2005 League Cup, following that up by lifting the iconic three-handled trophy again in 2007 and 2015.
And naming a strong line-up against the Hammers indicated he is keen to become only the third manager to win the competition on four occasions.
It is not certain, though, where Mourinho, 53, watched his side on Wednesday night. "It is a secret," he said afterwards.
He was seen arriving at Old Trafford, then spotted waiting to shake Hammers boss Slaven Bilic's hand before kick-off. Then he disappeared into the bowels of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand.
In his absence, the home side played with a vigour and verve long missing from Old Trafford performances in recent years.
The attacking quartet of Ibrahimovic, Martial, Wayne Rooney and Mkhitaryan were a handful throughout and, although the Hammers goal was preventable, Mourinho was more than content.
"Goals plus performance means the real happiness," he said.
Few positives for West Ham
It was during Sunday's Premier League draw between the two sides in which Mourinho was sent to the stands by referee Jon Moss after kicking a water bottle in frustration.
The Hammers failed to replicate that disciplined performance at the weekend as they unravelled in the second half on Wednesday.
Bilic will have been pleased with battling qualities shown by his side in the first half, riding out an early storm to level with their first shot.
The Croatian manager will not have been pleased to see them carved open so easily after the break, however. Nor will he have been happy to see left-back Ryan Cresswell substituted to add to his injury woes.
Man of the match - Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Manchester United)
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| Henrikh Mkhitaryan has struggled to force his way into Jose Mourinho's side since his £26m summer move from Borussia Dortmund, but showed he is beginning to match the expectations placed on him. The Armenia captain set up Zlatan Ibrahimovic's opener with a cheeky backheel for his first assist in a Red Devils shirt, then he also teed up Martial's first goal. "We know the reason we bought him and waited for his evolution, I'm happy," said Mourinho |
What's next?
Back to the Premier League. Sixth-placed United go to Everton, who are a place and a point behind them, on Sunday (16:00 GMT).
The Hammers are a point above the relegation zone in 16th place and host Arsenal at the London Stadium on Saturday (17:30).
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