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Manchester United vs FC Midtjylland. UEFA Europa League Knockout Play-offs.

Old TraffordAttendance58,609.

Manchester United 5

  • N Bodurov (32nd minute own goal)
  • M Rashford (63rd minute, 75th minute)
  • A Herrera (87th minute pen)
  • Memphis Depay (90th minute)

FC Midtjylland 1

  • P Sisto (27th minute)
  • A Romer (sent off 89th minute)

6-3

Manchester United 5-1 FC Midtjylland (Agg: 6-3): Marcus Rashford shines on debut

Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal
Image: Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring for Manchester United

Marcus Rashford scored twice on his debut as Manchester United beat Midtjylland 5-1 to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League with a 6-3 aggregate victory.

Deputising for Anthony Martial, who picked up an injury in the warm-up, Rashford struck twice in 12 second-half minutes to put the tie beyond a stubborn Midtjylland side at Old Trafford.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg, the Danish champions extended their aggregate advantage through Pione Sisto on 27 minutes, but United hit back as the impressive Memphis Depay forced Nikolay Bodurov to turn the ball into his own net.

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Louis van Gaal says Marcus Rashford had a great performance

United were denied a half-time lead when Mikkel Andersen saved Juan Mata's penalty, but the Reds dominated after the interval as Rashford's double, and goals from Ander Herrera and Depay, sealed United's passage into the next round.

Louis van Gaal's depleted squad took another blow ahead of kick-off as Martial picked up an injury in the warm-up, with academy graduate Rashford handed his full debut up front.

Manchester United's Anthony Martial warms up
Image: Manchester United's Anthony Martial was injured in the warm-up

Chris Smalling and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson failed to recover in time for Thursday's game which led to United naming Michael Carrick and debutant Joe Riley in a make-shift back four.

Despite this, in the opening stages United contained a passive Midtjylland side with relative ease as the visitors seemed content in preserving their first-leg lead.

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Rashford, 18, appeared unfazed by his last-minute call-up, producing a bright and industrious display as he called Andersen into action with a low drive on 16 minutes.

Juan Mata in action for Manchester United
Image: Juan Mata was in impressive form as United overcame Midtjylland

Jesse Lingard then deflected Filip Novak's clearance into the side-netting of the Midtjylland goal as United failed to convert their early dominance into goals.

And United were punished shortly after as the visitors, with their first attack, stunned Old Trafford with a goal on the break, with Sisto rounding Daley Blind and Carrick before drilling a low effort past Sergio Romero just before the half-hour.

The goal sparked United into life in the final third and they were level within five minutes as Bodurov turned Depay's low cross beyond his own 'keeper.

Memphis Depay of Manchester United in action with Andre Romer of FC Midtjylland
Image: Memphis Depay tormented Andre Romer for large parts of Thursday's game

United then had a chance to complete a quick turnaround as Andre Romer sent Herrera flying in the area with a clumsy challenge, but Andersen got down well to his left to tip Mata's spot kick away on 43 minutes.

Midtjylland had to withstand a United barrage as the hosts flew out of the traps in the second half, but Morgan Schneiderlin and Herrera both spurned great chances within five minutes of the restart.

Rashford, however, proved to be more decisive in front of goal as he ghosted into space in the area to turn Mata's brilliant cut-back home on 63 minutes to put United ahead on the night and level in the tie.

Marcus Rashford (R) of Manchester United celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Memphis Depay (L)
Image: Rashford (right) turned the tie in United's favour with two goals

As United pushed for the overall lead, Lingard was booked for simulation on 72 minutes following Romer's rash-looking challenge, a booking which rules him out of United's next European tie.

But, again, it was Rashford who crucially found the net three minutes later, drifting into space at the back post to convert Guillermo Varela's exquisite cross.

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Van Gaal insists Anthony Martial's hamstring injury isn't serious

As Midtjylland began to tire it turned into an exhibition for the hosts. Herrera sealed the victory three minutes from time with a well-taken penalty, after Depay's goal-bound shot was blocked by Kian Hansen's arm.

And, after Romer was dismissed for a second bookable offence, the impressive Depay capped off a fine individual display with low, driven effort in the final minute as United avoided a potential cup banana skin in style.

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