The England man, having fun with a purple patch following the World Cup, netted his 18th aim of the season in the sixth minute to silence an expectant crowd on the City Ground.
Manchester United gamers have fun a aim in their English League Cup match in opposition to Nottingham Forest on 25 January 2023. Picture: @ManUtd/Twitter
NOTTINGHAM – Marcus Rashford scored a blinding solo aim as Manchester United beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 in the primary leg of their League Cup semi-final on Wednesday to just about e-book a spot at Wembley subsequent month.
The England man, having fun with a purple patch following the World Cup, netted his 18th aim of the season in the sixth minute to silence an expectant crowd on the City Ground.
New United mortgage signing Wout Weghorst scored his first aim for the membership simply earlier than half-time, to put the guests in whole management, and Bruno Fernandes added gloss to the scoreline late on.
Erik ten Hag’s males are scorching favourites to attain Wembley as they search to finish their six-year trophy drought, with both Newcastle or Southampton mendacity in wait.
“I’m happy with the performance and I think over 90 minutes we controlled it,” Ten Hag informed Sky Sports.
But he highlighted a disallowed Forest aim in the primary half, warning his facet couldn’t afford to let opponents again into the match once they had been in cost.
The Dutchman was cautious to keep away from any trace of complacency forward of the second leg at Old Trafford on 1 February.
“We have to play one game and we have to do the same. We have to prepare, we have to make a good game plan and the players have to be focused,” he stated.
Former Ajax boss Ten Hag has revitalised United in his first season in cost however can be determined to win silverware to appease the hungry followers.
Brazil midfielder Casemiro was again in the United beginning line-up after being suspended for Sunday’s 3-2 Premier League defeat at leaders Arsenal, which left United fourth in the desk.
Forest, with new boy Danilo in the beginning line-up, got here into the match stuffed with confidence after only one defeat in their previous seven Premier League matches had lifted them to thirteenth in the desk.
RASHFORD HOT STREAK
But the guests took management instantly and opened the scoring in type.
Rashford picked up the ball in his personal half and raced down the left, slicing into the field between Joe Worrall and Remo Freuler earlier than beating Wayne Hennessey at his close to publish with a strong left-footed shot.
It was his tenth aim in 10 video games since getting back from Qatar final month.
Brazil winger Antony went close to making it 2-0 minutes later as United threatened to overwhelm the house staff.
Forest, who’ve received the League Cup 4 occasions in their historical past, thought that they had equalised halfway by means of the primary half when Sam Surridge produced a high-quality end after a rampaging run by means of the center by Morgan Gibbs-White.
But the aim was dominated out by VAR for a good offside in opposition to Surridge.
Gustavo Scarpa stung David de Gea’s palms with an audacious volley as Forest more and more got here into the sport, with Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson a menace.
But five-time winners United doubled their lead simply earlier than half-time, with Dutch ahead Weghorst reacting well to fireplace dwelling with the surface of his proper foot after Hennessey had denied Antony.
United had been largely untroubled in the second half, coming agonisingly close to extending their lead when Christian Eriksen rattled the crossbar from the sting of the field in the 54th minute.
The guests continued to threaten and rounded off a cushty evening when Fernandes slotted dwelling after a intelligent dinked cross from substitute Anthony Elanga.
Newcastle, chasing their first home trophy since 1955, beat Southampton 1-0 on Tuesday in their first-leg match.