Rooney equals scoring record as Man U whip Reading

LONDON (AP):

Wayne Rooney stands one goal away from becoming Manchester United's outright record goal-scorer after equalling club great Bobby Charlton's mark of 249 yesterday.

With the 79-year-old Charlton watching from the stands, Rooney guided in Juan Mata's cross after seven minutes as the defending FA Cup champions swept aside second-tier Reading 4-0 in the third round.

English Premier League teams Bournemouth, West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City all bowed out to lower-league opponents while Arsenal needed second-half goals from Aaron Ramsey and Oliver Giroud, the Frenchman netting late on, to wipe out Preston North End's halftime lead.

Third-tier Millwall, Cup finalists in 2004, caused the biggest shock by thumping a much-changed Bournemouth 3-0; West Brom went down at home to Championship team Derby County 2-1; while Wolverhampton Wanderers, also from the second tier, ensured Stoke lost in the third round for the first time since 2009 by winning at Britannia Stadium 2-0.

In all-Premier League matches, Ahmed Musa scored twice as Leicester fought back from a goal down to defeat Everton 2-1, while in the battle of the new managers, Marco Silva saw his Hull side get the better of Paul Clement's Swansea 2-0.

Silva, appointed on Tuesday in place of the fired Mike Phelan, would have noted the large number of empty seats at Hull's KCOM Stadium with home fans staying away in protest against the club's owners.

MANCHESTER UNITED 4 READING 0

Rooney's latest milestone - he is the record scorer for England - came in front of Old Trafford fans who have adored him, on and off, since he joined as a teenage prodigy from Everton in 2004.

"It is a really proud moment for me," Rooney said. "It was not something I could have imagined. You don't think that far ahead, but I have been at this club a long time, it is a huge part of my life, and it is an honour to be up there alongside Sir Bobby."

The game will be not be so fondly remembered by former United defender Jaap Stam, whose Reading side he coaches was outclassed.

Rooney set up Anthony Martial for 2-0 not long after he scored the opener.

United, winning for the eighth consecutive game in all competitions, added two more in quick succession after the break through Marcus Rashford got his second after a mistake from goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

PRESTON NORTH END 1 ARSENAL 2

Arsenal preserved manager Arsene Wenger's feat of never having lost a third-round match, but the Gunners did it the hard way.

After their dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Bournemouth in midweek, Arsenal started slow again as second-tier Preston fully deserved their halftime lead.

But whatever words Wenger barked during the break, they had an immediate effect, with Ramsey rifling in an equaliser 50 seconds after the restart.

Arsenal, 11-times FA Cup winners, six of which have come under Wenger's long reign, dominated after that but had to wait until two minutes from time to seal victory through Giroud.

EVERTON 1 LEICESTER 2

A turgid first half at Goodison Park was followed by an entertaining second as Leicester showed the mettle that made them English champions last season.

They fell behind to Romelu Lukaku's goal on 53 minutes, but Musa's equaliser was a rebound after he struck the post, and his second goal five minutes later was a fine finish after he played a one-two with Danny Drinkwater.

WEST BROM 1

DERBY COUNTY 2

Tom Ince, son of former England midfielder Paul Ince, struck a fine winner to upset top-flight West Brom. The hosts led through a Matt Phillips long-range strike, but Derby hit back in the second half as Darren Bent levelled, and Ince curled home a superb free kick.