Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MARCUS SPARKS A RASH OF GOALS
Striker to the rescue after wasteful Reds take time to kill off U’s
MARCUS RASHFORD atoned for a string of wasted chances by setting Manchester United on the way to a place in the semi-finals.
He was off target in a goalless first half which the Reds dominated, but normal service was resumed after the break to end Colchester’s Carabao Cup dreams.
The England striker claimed his 14th goal in 16 games for club and country on 51 minutes, and 10 minutes later set up Anthony Martial for United’s third, with an own goal from Ryan Jackson sandwiched between.
The margin of victory might have flattered the home side, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men remain on course to lift the one trophy he failed to get his hands on during a glittering playing career at Old Trafford.
Colchester had been one of the giant-killers of the competition, beating Crystal Palace and Tottenham on the way to only a second League Cup quarter-final in their history.
They arrived at Old Trafford as the lowest ranked team left in the competition – 70 places below United on the league ladder.
United crashed out to Bristol City at this stage in 2017, so Solskjaer was taking no chances and named a strong side to take on the League Two visitors that included seven changes but had both Martial and Rashford up front.
The hosts laid siege to Colchester’s goal from the start, Rashford lashing a free-kick just wide and troubling keeper Dean Gerken with a second effort moments later.
Rashford was getting some special treatment from the visitors, who hacked him down three times in the opening six minutes.
The agricultural tactics seemed to rattle Rashford, who was clean through on 25 minutes after latching onto an Andreas Pereira pass, but lost control with just Gerken to beat.
Rashford blew another golden opportunity minutes later from point-blank range and Colchester threatened to go ahead on the stroke of half time when Callum Harriott shot just wide.
United had all of the ball, but did not know what to do with it. Their lack of creativity was staggering and it was going to take a piece of individual brilliance to find a way through. That came from Rashford six minutes after the break.
Jackson’s surging run forward left gaping holes in the Colchester defence and Nemanja Matic exploited it with a fine ball to release Rashford, who charged down the left, cut inside and lashed home.
Jackson then turned Mason Greenwood’s cross into his own net, with Martial making it 3-0.
Martial, Rashford and sub Brandon Williams all went close but a thrashing would have been very harsh on Colchester.