Match ends, Manchester United 2, RSC Anderlecht 1.
Man UtdManchester United2AnderlechtRSC Anderlecht1
Marcus Rashford's extra-time goal sent Manchester United into the Europa League semi-final at the expense of Anderlecht on a night of tension at Old Trafford.
The Europa League has acquired huge significance for United and manager Jose Mourinho as it offers a potential route into the Champions League, away from the battle for top-four places in the Premier League - making this victory crucial.
United took the lead on the night and in the tie when Henrikh Mkhitaryan drilled in a low finish in the 10th minute but Anderlecht restored parity when Sofiane Hanni scrambled home an equaliser after 32 minutes.
Mourinho's side were their own worst enemies with a shocking display of finishing as they missed chance after chance, their cause also undermined by injuries to defender Marcos Rojo in the first half and a serious-looking knee injury to top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of normal time.
United were facing the prospect of a penalty shootout but Rashford, a scorer against Chelsea at the weekend, made the decisive contribution after 107 minutes with a brilliant turn and finish from Marouane Fellaini's knockdown.
- Relive Manchester United's dramatic win against Anderlecht
- Ibrahimovic and Rojo injuries worry Mourinho
- Football Daily podcast: Man Utd scrape into semi-finals
Do Man Utd still lack killer touch?
Manchester United flirted with an exit from the Europa League here - and if they had gone out they would only have had themselves to blame.
As on so many occasions this season, United created multiple chances only to waste the opportunities and leave themselves hostages to fortune and the threatening counter-attacks of Anderlecht.
Rashford, Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba were all guilty of a succession of bad misses as the flaw that has undermined United all season reared its ugly head once more and kept Anderlecht in contention right until the final whistle in extra time.
On this occasion, at least, United rescued themselves with Rashford's goal but Mourinho will know his side must discover the killer touch from somewhere if they are to secure the Champions League place that must be the minimum requirement from this season.
Expensive night in victory?
United can celebrate another step towards winning the Europa League and the Champions League place that comes with it - but this may yet prove to be expensive night for Mourinho as the season reaches its climax.
The biggest concern will surround Ibrahimovic, whose knee looked to give way as he challenged for a high ball in the final moments of normal time. He managed to get to his feet and wave away the waiting stretcher but was helped off as he limped down the tunnel at the Stretford End.
Ibrahimovic had actually had a nightmare before his injury but his influence this season has been huge and United will anxiously await the medical update.
Rashford has delivered against Chelsea and here against Anderlecht, offering the pace and movement which the 35-year-old Swede cannot, but the loss of Ibrahimovic would still be a setback of major significance after his 28 goals this season.
And there will be almost equal concern about the injury to Rojo that saw the central defender taken off on a stretcher in the first half. He had received lengthy treatment previously before collapsing in a second challenge. United are already without injured central defenders Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, so they can ill-afford to lose Rojo.
This was a vital victory for Manchester United - but it may yet be victory at a heavy price.
Mourinho still on course
When Mourinho was appointed United manager, it was with the express intention of bringing more trophies to Old Trafford - but also putting the club back in the Champions League.
Mourinho may be taking the scenic route and learning to love a competition he derided for so long, but with the fight for the top four in the Premier League so tight and with United facing tough trips to Manchester City and Arsenal in the run-in, the Europa League provides a welcome safety net.
The poor relation of European football's competitions has suddenly acquired crucial status at Old Trafford, as the celebrations at the conclusion of extra time proved.
Man of the match - Marcus Rashford
Mkhitaryan among the goals again. The stats
- Jose Mourinho has won his past nine European home games as manager, including all six with Man Utd this season.
- Man Utd are unbeaten in their past 26 games in all competitions at Old Trafford (W17 D9); their longest unbeaten run since October 2011 (37 games).
- Anderlecht have never won in 18 previous away games against English sides (D2 L16), conceding in every contest.
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan has scored in five of his past six Europa League games.
- Mkhitaryan has scored in three successive appearances (all comps) for Man Utd for the second time this season.
- Only Genk (25) and Roma (24) have scored more goals in the Europa League this season than Anderlecht (23).
What next?
Manchester United switch their focus back to the Premier League as they travel to Burnley on Sunday (14:15 BST) before travelling to Manchester City on 27 April (20:00).
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 20Romero
- 25A Valencia
- 3Bailly
- 5RojoSubstituted forBlindat 23'minutes
- 23Shaw
- 16Carrick
- 6Pogba
- 14LingardSubstituted forFellainiat 60'minutes
- 22Mkhitaryan
- 19Rashford
- 9IbrahimovicSubstituted forMartialat 90'minutes
Substitutes
- 1de Gea
- 10Rooney
- 11Martial
- 17Blind
- 18Young
- 21Herrera
- 27Fellaini
Anderlecht
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 30Martínez
- 12AppiahBooked at 97mins
- 4Kara
- 5Spajic
- 37Obradovic
- 31TielemansBooked at 11mins
- 32Dendoncker
- 11ChipciuSubstituted forBrunoat 64'minutes
- 94HanniSubstituted forStanciuat 64'minutes
- 18Acheampong
- 91TeodorczykSubstituted forThelinat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Deschacht
- 10Bruno
- 14Nuytinck
- 17Capel
- 23Boeckx
- 24Thelin
- 73Stanciu
- Referee:
- Alberto Undiano Mallenco
- Attendance:
- 71,496
Match Stats
Home TeamMan UtdAway TeamAnderlecht
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home22
- Away18
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away6
- Corners
- Home12
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away11
Live Text
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Second Half Extra Time ends, Manchester United 2, RSC Anderlecht 1.
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Attempt missed. Kara (RSC Anderlecht) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ivan Obradovic.
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Offside, Manchester United. Henrikh Mkhitaryan tries a through ball, but Anthony Martial is caught offside.
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Sergio Romero (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Isaac Kiese Thelin (RSC Anderlecht).
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Attempt blocked. Uros Spajic (RSC Anderlecht) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Youri Tielemans.
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Attempt saved. Frank Acheampong (RSC Anderlecht) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Kara with a headed pass.
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Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Youri Tielemans (RSC Anderlecht).
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Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Kara.
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Michael Carrick (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Isaac Kiese Thelin (RSC Anderlecht).
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Foul by Antonio Valencia (Manchester United).
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Ivan Obradovic (RSC Anderlecht) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Paul Pogba (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
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Foul by Marcus Rashford (Manchester United).
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Massimo Bruno (RSC Anderlecht) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester United 2, RSC Anderlecht 1. Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marouane Fellaini with a headed pass.
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Foul by Daley Blind (Manchester United).
Comments
Join the conversation
Yes, this is the smaller of the two European tournaments.
Yes it wasn't a great performance.
Yes, many fans expect better.
However...
We are in the draw for the semis.
We will celebrate if we win the title.
We're the only English team left in.
We have Rashford.
It's because of United that the Premier League has 4 places in the Champions league, our success reaching finals and semi finals have paved the way for teams like City, Arsenal and Tottenham to mess it up for everyone and ruin all the work United and Liverpool have done.
It's an end of an era yet we're still going after trophies..sorry to burst your bubble
GGMU
Onwards and upwards!
🏆🏆🏆 this season, not toooooo baaaaaad!
Rashford is superb, and I have a feeling he's going to hit a rich vein of form. As for Zlatan, he looks tired. Rest him at Burnley, ready for City.
As for supporting all English teams in Europe...well, only ones left now!
No point trying to head off the trolls, just let em get on with it. I mean the effort they put into hating United is far greater than the effort they put into supporting their own club, makes you think who they really support? For instance @1 and @8, constant trolls on United HYS's 😂
Anyhoo, prediction - Rashford will be United and England's greatest ever goalscorer!
May still be a back door into the Champions League but fourth still possible!
Thought Carrick was excellent - he held the midfield together at times.
Shaw is getting back to his old self, and for once a mature performance from Fellaini.
You really are a crashing bore mate. Seriously, get out more, get a girlfriend, put the Kleenex down and get some fresh air. Anything but this repetitive shizzle that you spew out endlessly.
Shout out to my club Arsenal 100 years straight in the top flight and to the second team Everton 62 years straight.
Special hello to the new shiny teams Chelskovitch oil buying titles since 2004 and Man Sheiky oil buying titles since 2012.
Wishing Utd all the best from most England fans ur carrying the flag now for us all 🇬🇧
No matter how long it would have taken to set up the HYS you would have been sat there in your Man City pyjamas desperately waiting to post your usual drivel about United.
As for your sad UPVOTE ME plea that says it all about you.
On a side note, how good is Rashford looking. Bright future.
Finish 4th and qualify for champions league = success nowadays
Win a trophy and qualify for champions league = more success in my opinion
As for the europa league being a tinpot cup, i agree it isn't no champions league but the team who has won the last 2 editions sevilla are certainly not a poor team. And with a champions league place available I believe that alone is a huge reward, just ask arsenal wenger.