Tremendous sub Marcus Rashford scored a medical second-half hat-trick as Manchester United ripped German league leaders RB Leipzig aside on Wednesday to grab management of their Champions League group with a 5-0 rout. Mason Greenwood appeared like grabbing the headlines together with his first-half strike however Rashford got here off the bench to remind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he’s the principle man at Outdated Trafford and Anthony Martial additionally acquired in on the act. Rashford, who scored thrice in an 18-minute blitz, is just the second United participant to attain a hat-trick as an alternative after Solskjaer himself carried out the feat towards Nottingham Forest in 1999.
United, who endured a torrid begin to their season, have taken management of Group H after constructing on their spectacular opening win towards Paris Saint-Germain.
“Marcus Rashford got here on and did effectively however the groundwork was there from the group, that is what you need from the subs,” Solskjaer informed BT Sport.
“What a shift they put in. Leipzig are a excessive press, the depth, so we needed to dig deep.
“We needed to relaxation a number of as a result of the season is relentless, so we used the squad. This group is coming collectively. The extra high quality and spirit you’ve, the extra you get the efficiency.”
Rashford, final week’s hero within the French capital, and Bruno Fernandes had been surprisingly left on the bench as United went searching for their first dwelling win of the season.
– Greenwood opener –
Greenwood, who final month was despatched dwelling in shame by England for breaking coronavirus protocols, began up entrance alongside Martial.
Julian Nagelsmann’s group began brightly, pinning the house aspect again however United quickly settled, creating openings.
They broke the impasse within the twenty first minute when Paul Pogba drove ahead from midfield and fed Greenwood, who stroked the ball together with his left foot throughout Peter Gulacsi and into the far nook for his first Champions League objective.
United had a nervous wait as VAR checked out a possible off-side however the objective was allowed to face.
Leipzig, final season’s semi-finalists, got here again strongly, pinning United again for lengthy spells of the remainder of the primary half.
Christopher Nkunku pressured a sensible save from David de Gea and Nemanja Matic reacted to cease Marcel Halstenberg getting on the tip of the ensuing nook.
United had been solely exhibiting flashes in assault after the break however Leipzig had been struggling to create clear-cut probabilities on the different finish, though De Gea needed to be alert to tip over a close-range Ibrahima Konate header.
Solskjaer threw on Rashford, Fernandes and Scott McTominay inside the house of some minutes to alter the dynamic and United reaped the rewards.
Fernandes despatched an excellent first-time ball via to Rashford, who raced clear and slotted previous Gulasci within the 74th minute.
The linesman had raised his flag for offside however VAR checked the choice, ruling that the ahead began his run in his personal half and awarded the objective.
Rashford rifled dwelling once more 4 minutes later to make the rating 3-0 however then unselfishly allowed Martial to take a penalty after the Frenchman was introduced down within the field.
However the England man accomplished his hat-trick in added time to cap a devastating show.
“I believe the supervisor wished me to up the tempo,” stated Rashford.
Promoted
“That for us means going ahead. There was undoubtedly areas there. We acquired Bruno and Paul (Pogba) on the ball. We appeared harmful all through and that we may rating each time we went ahead.”
A shell-shocked Nagelsmann, for whom this was the primary defeat of the season stated: “It was a bit loopy as a result of after they scored the primary objective we did effectively. The ultimate 20 minutes had been very dangerous.”
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