Tottenham's Son Heung-min scores his side's opening goal during the FA Cup 4th round soccer match between Preston North End and Tottenham Hotspur at the Deepdale Stadium in Preston, England, Jan 28, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
PRESTON, England - Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min returned to form with two goals in his side's 3-0 defeat of second-tier Preston North End in the FA Cup fourth round and Casemiro also grabbed a brace in Manchester United's 3-1 win over Reading on Saturday.
Fellow Premier League sides Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton also reached round five on a shock-less day.
Top flight Fulham were held to a 1-1 home draw by second-tier Sunderland at Craven Cottage.
South Korean Son has endured a lean season but made the difference with two superb goals after the break as the visitors moved comfortably through to the next round.
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Five minutes into the second half, the ball was played to Son outside the penalty area and he struck an unstoppable drive low into the corner of the net.
It was only his second goal since mid-October but 19 minutes later he struck again, turning smoothly on the edge of the box and firing past Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.
Manchester United's Casemiro (left) tackles Reading's Lucas Joao during the English FA Cup 4th round soccer match between Manchester United and Reading at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Jan 28, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
It took 30 minutes for Leicester to get a shot on target and a frustrating afternoon was made worse as Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans struck a penalty against the post after Patson Daka was fouled inside the box
Apart from a brief spell in between Tottenham's goals, Preston rarely troubled the away side who did not even need to bring leading scorer Harry Kane off the bench.
Dutch forward Arnaut Danjuma, who signed for Spurs on loan from Spanish club Villarreal this week, came off the bench to score his side's third with a close-range finish late on.
Reading were riding their luck at Old Trafford until Casemiro scored twice in the space of four minutes early in the second half to pave the way for United's win.
His first was a delightful dinked finish from Antony's pass and he then drilled in a low shot to double the lead.
Fred made it 3-0 before Andy Carroll was sent off for Reading after picking up a second yellow card.
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Amadou Salif Mbengue pulled a goal back for Reading who are managed by former United midfielder Paul Ince.
Kelechi Iheanacho spared Leicester City a potential giant-killing as his second-half goal ensured the Foxes beat fourth-tier Walsall 1-0.
Leicester City's Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans (2nd left) reacts as his penalty shot hits the post during the English FA Cup 4th round soccer match between Walsall and Leicester City at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in Walsall, on Jan 28, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
It took 30 minutes for Leicester to get a shot on target and a frustrating afternoon was made worse as Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans struck a penalty against the post after Patson Daka was fouled inside the box.
Second-half substitute Iheanacho unlocked Walsall when his effort from the edge of the box deflected off the back of home defender Brandon Comley and beyond keeper Owen Evans.
Leeds advanced to the fifth round for the first time since 2016 with a 3-1 win at third-tier Accrington Stanley.
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Jack Harrison put Leeds ahead with a spectacular long-range strike after 23 minutes before Junior Firpo and Luis Sinisterra scored within two minutes of each other midway through the second half to put Jesse Marsch's men on course for victory.
Leslie Adekoya, 18, pulled one back for Accrington in the 81st with his first senior goal seconds after coming on.
Southampton put their Premier League woes aside to beat Championship strugglers Blackpool 2-1 while Bristol City eased to a 3-0 win over fellow second-tier side West Bromwich Albion.
