BATTLE OF THE BELG
United muscle past the men from Brussels but victory comes at a cost
FOURTEEN months ago hardly anyone had heard of Marcus Rashford.
But last night, Rashford once again made the Europa League his own with a precious extratime winner to keep Manchester United’s season very much alive and kicking.
He sprang to prominence in February last year when drafted into the starting line-up against FC Midtjylland. He scored two goals and the rest is history.
This time, Rashford’s brilliantly-taken 107th-minute winner put United into the semi-finals and ever closer to a Champions League place.
It was a lovely touch, control and then devastating shot as Rashford feasted on United going route-one with Marouane Fellaini’s flick-on from Daley Blind’s long pass.
It was a moment of skill which stood out on a night when the Reds missed chance after chance and seemed to be doing their best to draw yet another home game.
With the exhilarating display against Chelsea on Sunday, Jose Mourinho must have felt as if United had turned a corner.
But there have been far too many false dawns at Old Trafford this season to get too carried away. It seems to be one step forward and two steps back for him right now.
And sure enough, that was the script for what seems like the umpteenth time. Bright start, setback and then the nerves seem to surface.
Paul Pogba looked to have exerted his authority to help open the scoring after 10 minutes. His fabulous ball released Rashford down the left. Rashford’s first cross was blocked by Serigne Mbodji, his second picked out Henrikh Mkhitaryan and the midfielder smashed a low shot past keeper Martinez Ruben.
Two minutes later, United should have increased their lead. Mkhitaryan’s corner found Pogba whose header was brilliantly tipped over by Ruben, who then produced another super save to deny Jesse Lingard.
Just when it felt everything was going to plan for United, it fell apart.
First, Marcos Rojo injured a
knee making a tackle, bravely carried on but should have gone off. Frank Acheampong raced past him as if he were not there but fired into the side netting.
Rojo was taken off – on a stretcher – and Blind came on but chaos still prevailed in the home defence as Anderlecht swarmed forward.
The visitors drew level after 32 minutes. Youri Tielemans’ shot deflected off Antonio Valencia, looped up, hit the bar and bounced down for Sofiane Hanni to pounce.
Anderlecht could sense United’s were edgy and pushed forward, with Mourinho pacing up and down the touchline with yet another game threat- ening to slip from his grasp.
The frustration was that although well below their best, his men still had plenty of chance. Lingard should have scored from Luke Shaw’s 49thminute cross and soon afterwards made way for Fellaini as Mourinho decided to be more direct.
It pinned Anderlecht back as the Reds piled on the pressure. Rashford went clean through, rounded the keeper but showed his inexperience and a lack of composure as he took the ball too wide and allowed Dennis Appiah to recover and clear.
Finally United were stepping it up. Pogba unforgivably almost put the ball over the Stratford End from point-blank range from Mkhitaryan’s corner, then desperately looked for someone else to blame, but it was a sitter.
Michael Carrick played in Ibrahimovic whose rushed shot flew so wide it went nearer to the corner flag than the goal.
The Swede was having a bad night and it became even worse just before the end of normal time when he suffered what looked a serious leg injury.
Rashford had the ball in the net after 85 minutes but his effort was wrongly ruled out for offside. More frustration for Mourinho.
But Rashford was not to be denied in extra-time.