Marcus Rashford downs Colchester once Manchester United find their range
If Marcus Rashford performs, Manchester United often follow suit. So it was that he transformed this quarterfinal, turning it on in the second half to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the win, which is the best way to celebrate his first anniversary of taking charge on Thursday.
They were then drawn to play Manchester City, who they beat at the Etihad on 7 December, in the semi-final. Despite this Solskjaer believes a new gameplan will be required. “You won’t beat City twice in a row or three times with the same tactics so we’ll have to do something better. Pep will have his team fired up,” he said.
Rashford scored the opener and was a key factor in the other two strikes in a 10-minute burst that was precisely what was required against a Colchester who had been durable. It took the striker to a career-best 14 goals for the club in one season, though Solskjaer held back from describing him as world class.
“What is world class?” the Norwegian asked. “Marcus is developing and improving and getting better and better, we’ll get a world-class player [Paul Pogba] back very soon – we missed him, of course.”
Solskjaer proved he meant business by including Harry Maguire, Anthony
Martial and Rashford. “A fully loaded team,” the Colchester manager, John McGreal, said.
Colchester, who had brought 5,271 fans, ensured everyone was behind the ball as they settled in for a long siege. United enjoyed virtually all the possession as would be expected against opponents standing ninth in League Two. Mason Greenwood had a shot blocked. Andreas Pereira pinged a 40yard pass in behind to Greenwood who just failed to connect with the ball.
The latter was indicative of United’s problem: the final pass was not being delivered precisely enough. When Pereira did slide an inch-perfect pass to Rashford the forward had a clear run at Dean Gerken but his control was slipshod and Colchester escaped. Next Rashford – again – failed with his first touch right in front of the goalkeeper and the ball bounced to safety.
All of this caused merriment to the travelling contingent who cheered every United misstep in a contest of attack-v-defence compressed around the Colchester area.
Solskjaer’s team struggle against sides who do not come at them, so having to try to break down visitors whose playbook was similar could be counted a useful exercise. The problem, though, was that by half-time United had not done so which meant the chance of a surprise scoring breakaway for Colchester could not be ignored.
The manager may have reminded his players of this at the break while also encouraging more composure. Greenwood came close to stabbing home from close range after Colchester were breached in behind. The sense was that one goal could lead to a few – and this would prove the case. Yet when Ryan Jackson broke down his right-back berth and shot, Sergio Romero had to save.
Now, though, United struck. The keeper quickly found Nemanja Matic and he dinked a 30-yard ball into Rashford down the left. From here the 22year-old turned on the after-burners, cut inside, left a panicking defence trailing and smashed past Gerken.
United’s second followed soon after. This time Greenwood was the supplier as he aimed for Rashford at the far post only for the unfortunate Jackson to steer home from near in.
Rashford’s last act, before he was replaced by Jesse Lingard, was to set up Martial to make it 3-0, with Brandon Williams coming on for Luke Shaw. The goal flurry meant United could coast through the remainder of the game and enjoy a night of satisfaction.