Rashford comes off bench to inspire Red Devils with his first club hat- trick
SUPER SUB Marcus Rashford’s first Manchester United hat- trick inspired Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men to a 5- 0 statement win against last year’s Champions League semi- finalists RB Leipzig.
A week on from their deserved triumph at finalists Paris St Germain, United continued their 100 per cent start to Group H by securing a first home win of the season in some style.
Rashford was the hero in the French capital and was key again on Wednesday, netting a treble off the bench as Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood also scored against Bundesliga leaders Leipzig.
It was a devastating attacking performance that means United look set to reach the knockout phase after just two matches of a tough- looking section.
The hosts went in at the break ahead through a fine, low strike from Greenwood but Julian Nagelsmann’s Leipzig looked threatening, leading Solskjaer to turn to his bench.
What a decision that proved to be. The video assistant referee gave the green light to Rashford’s first goal from fellow sub Bruno Fernandes’ pass, with the forward swiftly following that up with an impressive second. Martial took the penalty he won as United ran amok, with star man Rashford wrapping things up and completing his hat- trick.
Earlier, Chelsea delivered a commanding Champions League performance to seal an emphatic 4- 0 win at Krasnodar.
Callum Hudson- Odoi, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic all found the net as the Blues eased to their first Group E victory in Russia.
Regular penalty- taker Jorginho missed his second spotkick of the campaign though, wrong- footing goalkeeper Matvei Safonov with his trademark skip- step run- up - only to scuff the ball against the post as he attempted to give Chelsea the lead. Jorginho had just been substituted with 15 minutes to play when Chelsea won a second penalty in the match.
And with the Italy midfielder off the field, Germany hitman Werner seized control and rifled the ball into the net, in a deadball style in complete contrast with Jorginho’s approach.
Werner’s net- busting strike will at least hand boss Frank Lampard food for thought in terms of a regular penalty- taker, but Chelsea cruised to a fine victory in any event.