Mainoo saves Man Utd in 7-goal thriller
LONDON: Kobbie Mainoo scored a 97thminute winner as Manchester United snatched a dramatic 4-3 win at Wolves on Thursday after blowing a two-goal lead.
Marcus Rashford’s goal-scoring return, days after being fined for missing training after a night out, looked set to grab the headlines as United raced into a 2-0 lead.
Scott McTominay restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion after Pablo Sarabia’s penalty got Wolves back in the game.
But the home side looked to have claimed a point when Max Kilman and Pedro Neto struck late on.
However, 18-year-old Mainoo provided one final twist with a brilliant solo run and shot in the latest display of his potential as a rising star.
“He’s making incredible progress. He has great abilities,” said United manager Erik ten Hag.
“He is the modern midfield player, he can attack and defend. He has the intelligence to do both and the physicality.”
Rashford missed United’s 4-2 FA Cup win at Newport County on Sunday after he spent two nights out in a Belfast nightclub last week.
Ten Hag insisted before kickoff that it was “case closed” after the matter was dealt with internally.
Rashford was reportedly fined £650,000 — the equivalent of two weeks’ wages.
But the England international made an instant impact on his return, giving the visitors a perfect start after five minutes with a fine finish from outside the box.
Rasmus Hojlund then bundled in his third goal in four Premier League games from Luke Shaw’s cross as ten Hag’s men produced arguably their best 45 minutes of the season before half-time.
The Dutch coach has put his side’s poor form this season down to an injury crisis and the Red Devils were much improved with Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro all back in the side for the first time in months.
Wolves have beaten Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea at home this season and looked to have been gifted a route back into the game in the second half.
Casemiro, who was starting his first Premier League game since October, was penalised for a foul on Neto and Sarabia converted the spot-kick.
McTominay then replaced Casemiro and scored with his first touch. The Scotland international headed in a Bruno Fernandes corner.