Beckham's penalty relieves the pressure

Manchester United 2 Leicester City

David Beckham temporarily put behind him the trauma of last weekend to set up victory for an under-strength Manchester United in this attritional Worthington Cup third-round tie. His penalty ended Leicester's resistance as extra time loomed, and Kieran Richardson added a second with two minutes remaining.

Playing under the pressure of an alleged plot to kidnap his wife and children, Beckham flighted one of his trademark crosses with the First Division promotion candidates 10 minutes away from an additional half-hour. Andrew Impey was adjudged, somewhat harshly, to have pushed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Beckham's right boot did the rest.

The 18-year-old Richardson, a late substitute, then met a Solskjaer centre with a diving header to collect a fine first goal for United. Leicester's fate was more familiar than the scorer, their last three Premiership visits to Old Trafford having produced an identical scoreline.

After a day when the talk of United concerned salary caps – surprisingly unavailable in the megastore – this contest had a cloth-cap feel until United brought on Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastian Veron for the final, productive push. Sir Alex Ferguson had taken the opportunity to rest them before Saturday's derby at Maine Road, although his starting line-up still contained nine internationals.

The re-jig initially brought Beckham into central midfield, from where he sent Solskjaer clear of a startled Leicester back line after just 20 seconds. A goal seemed certain as the Norwegian shaped to shoot but Frank Sinclair cleared with a textbook sliding challenge.

Leicester, doubtless relieved to be back on dry land after their aquatic adventures at Portsmouth, seldom came off the back foot. Ian Walker enjoyed a charmed life in goal, escaping unpunished after spilling a header by Diego Forlan and shot by Quinton Fortune, respectively. The waif-like Daniel Nardiello also fired across the face of the goal as colleagues slid in a fraction too late.

United did not have it all their own way, however. Jordan Stewart's surge ended when Beckham cut him down; the England captain, suspended for the City game, incurred another caution. Then, eight minutes before half-time, Muzzy Izzet's corner found Matt Elliott rising at the near post, only for David May to clear off the line.

By sending on a Summerbee – Nicky rather than Mike of Red Devil demonology – the Leicester manager, Micky Adams, enlivened a dour start to the second half. The substitute was roundly booed. Walker made another second-attempt save, from Forlan's angled drive, but Leicester at last came forward, with another ex-City man, Paul Dickov, forcing Roy Carroll into a desperate close-range stop.

Ferguson responded by introducing Scholes and Veron, with Beckham moving to the right flank with telling consequences. Adams, while disappointed by the decision against Impey, was magnanimous in his praise of Leicester's tormentor. "Beckham's the ultimate professional," he said. "He has to deal with pressures most players will never know."

Manchester United (4-4-2): Carroll; G Neville, May, Ferdinand, O'Shea; Forlan, Beckham, P Neville (Scholes, 59), Fortune (Veron, 65); Nardiello (Richardson, 74), Solskjaer. Substitutes not used: Pugh, Barthez (gk).

Leicester City (4-4-2): Walker; Sinclair, Elliott (Summerbee, 51), Heath, Rogers (Stevenson, 82); Impey, Davidson, Izzet, Stewart; Dickov (Benjamin, 82), Scowcroft. Substitutes not used: Reeves, Oakes.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).