490 STORES
tempted to go home. By then the home side had scored through Rooney and Martial and were threatening to mark their eighth successive victory with the kind of romp that became standard under Fergie.
Rashford had already fired wide and Rooney was denied by Reading keeper Ali Al Habsi before the inevitable breakthrough on seven minutes.
Martial broke past two defenders at pace and when Juan Mata served up a cross, Rooney looped the ball into the corner with his knee.
Fluke or not, Rooney looked to the heavens to celebrate his 249th United goal and a strike that has drawn him level with Sir Bobby Charlton’s club-record tally.
United don’t recognise the two goals Charlton scored in a 4-1 Anglo-Italian Cup victory at Verona in May 1973.
And so, 4,485 days since marking his United debut with a Champions League hat-trick against Fenerbahce, it seems the Scouser has helped himself to another slice of Mancunian history.
Eight minutes later, Rooney turned provider, swapping passes with Martial to enable the Frenchman to pick a spot low to Al Habsi’s left as Liam Moore fatally backed off.
Rooney should have notched his 250th when Al Habsi spilled Marouane Fellaini’s shot – but he recovered to beat away the United skipper’s follow-up.
And Rashford then missed his kick from inside the six- yard box after Rooney had put one on a plate.
But the teenager was not to be denied. He made no mistake in the 75th minute when his pace was exploited by Michael Carrick’s raking pass.
And four minutes later he was celebrating again when Al Habsi’s fluffed kick presented an open goal.
Mourinho said: “I spoke to Marcus at half time and told him I didn’t care 12............ Shots on Target ........... 1 10............ Shots off Target .......... 4 5 ............... Blocked Shots............ 2 7 ..................... Corners .................. 4 7 ....................... Fouls ................... 10 7 .................... Offsides................... 1 1 ................. Yellow Cards ............. 0 0 ...................Red Cards ................ 0 81.3 ....... Passing Success..... 81.3 15 .................... Tackles.................. 15 73.3......... Tackles Won % ........ 60 45.1............. Possession......... 54.9 49.2 .... Territorial Advantage 50.8 380 ........... Total Passes ......... 459 11 ............... Total Crosses ............ 17 53.1............ 1st Half Poss. ....... 46.9 37 ............. 2nd Half Poss. .......... 63 about the chances he missed. He had a big responsibility in the way we were breaking their defensive line and he was playing well for us.
“But, of course, it’s good for a striker to score because it means happiness and confidence.”
United now face Hull in the EPL semi-final first leg on Tuesday before an Old Trafford clash with Liverpool on Sunday. Just like the old days.