The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring the winning goal as Manchester United beat Anderlecht 2-1 – and 3-2 on aggregate – at Old Trafford last night to reach the Uefa Europa League semi-finals.

EUROPA LEAGUE: Ibrahimovi­c injured as Manchester United through to last four with win over Anderlecht

- Getty.

Marcus Rashford sent Manchester United into the Europa League semifinals, but only after Anderlecht took Jose Mourinho’s side to extra-time in a breathless encounter.

England’s last European representa­tives came into the quarter-final second leg boosted by Sunday’s win against Premier League leaders Chelsea and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s away goal.

The Armenian struck again early on but United were given a scare, with Anderlecht captain Sofiane Hanni bringing the tie level, before Rashford capped a man-of-the-match display with the goal that secured a 2-1 extra-time triumph.

Victory saw Mourinho’s men stumble a step closer to the Stockholm finale 3-2 on aggregate, but the Old Trafford quarter-final second leg proved costly as Marcos Rojo and Zlatan Ibrahimovi­c sustained what appear to be serious injuries.

Few could have foreseen such an arduous evening after Mkhitaryan’s fifth goal in six Europa League matches, but impressive Anderlecht went into halftime level after Hanni reacted quickest to Youri Tielemans’ deflected effort rebounding off the crossbar.

United’s desperatio­n to embarrassi­ng exit was matched by the visitors’ desire to win on English soil for the first time, leading to a thrilling second half that came to an excruciati­ng end for Ibrahimovi­c.

The veteran Swede’s enforced exit after landing awkwardly saw Rashford lead the line and the outrageous­ly-talented 19-year-old struck the decisive blow, showing wonderful composure and skill to strike a 107th-minute winner.

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 ?? Picture: Getty. ?? Marcus Rashford puts Manchester United into the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Picture: Getty. Marcus Rashford puts Manchester United into the semi-finals of the Europa League.
 ?? Picture: AP. ?? Henrikh Mkhitaryan scores the opening goal past Anderlecht goalkeeper Ruben Martinez.
Picture: AP. Henrikh Mkhitaryan scores the opening goal past Anderlecht goalkeeper Ruben Martinez.

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