Rashford double secures United quarter-final berth

A double from Marcus Rashford, including a superb free-kick, secured Manchester United victory over Chelsea and a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

The home side had the first opportunity of the contest when a long ball from Marcus Alonso was cushioned into the path of the on-running Michy Batshuayi by Callum Hudson-Odoi, the ball just escaping the Belgian at the final moment.

Scott McTominay saw yellow with just ten minutes on the clock for a robust challenge, the Scotland international was now walking a tightrope for the remainder of the tie.

McTominay had United’s first chance of the night, flashing a Daniel James corner wide of Willy Caballero’s goal.

United were awarded a penalty on 23 minutes when James broke into the box, brought down by a clumsy challenge from Marcus Alonso.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side had a well-documented struggle with penalties but Marcus Rashford made no mistake, stepping up and sending Caballero the wrong way despite the taunts of the Argentinian.

Hudson-Odoi’s cross flashed across the face of goal as the home side failed to muster up anything meaningful to test Sergio Romero.

Chelsea’s hat-trick hero from the weekend Christian Pulisic could only control a Jorginho through ball with the aid of his arm as the half drew to a close.

It remained one-nil to the visitors at the break after Marcus Rashford’s first half penalty.

Hudson-Odoi had a guilt-edged chance to level the scores just minutes after the restart but miscued a close-range effort.

Chelsea broke soon later through Billy Gilmour and were soon appealing for a penalty of their own for a handball inside the area, referee Paul Tierney waving away appeals.

Jorginho’s deftly waited ball found Hudson-Odoi in a good position but his powerful strike sailed over Romero’s goal. Chelsea’s performance had drastically improved from their first half showing as an equaliser loomed.

The equaliser duly came on 60 minutes through a piece of individual brilliance from Michy Batshuayi.

The Belgian picked up the ball on the half way line after battling with Harry Maguire before driving at the United defence and driving a low effort past Romero in the United goal.

Both sides exchanged double substitutions in the hope of gaining a foothold in the match as Batshuayi almost repeated his earlier exploits before a slip just outside the box.

With much talk in the press box directed towards the Liverpool match, Marcus Rashford ensured eyes would be directed firmly match on proceedings at Stamford Bridge.

From over 30 yards out, the England international hit a swirling free-kick past a helpless Caballero to send the away crowd into raptures. An outstanding effort from the forward, who had silenced critics and the Stamford Bridge crowd alike.

The scorers of United’s two goals soon departed for Ashley Young, Solskjaer now wanting to close out the game and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

Marcus Alonso stung the palms of Romero as we entered the last ten, Tammy Abraham now thrown on for the hosts by Frank Lampard.

Time ticked away and crowd anger grew, two Chelsea fans near the press box arguing amongst themselves over the cause of their team’s defeat.

The full time whistle was blown at Stamford Bridge, a huge win under pressurised circumstances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his United team inspired by the dead ball brilliance of Marcus Rashford.

Chelsea XI: Cabellero; James, Zouma, Guehi, Alonso; Gilmour (Mount, 70), Jorginho (C), Kovacic; Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi (Abraham, 78), Pulisic (Pedro, 70)

Chelsea unused substitutes: Cumming, Azpilicueta, Lamptey, Giroud

Manchester United XI: Romero; Wan-Bissaka, Rojo, Maguire (C), Lindelof (Martial, 66), Williams; McTominay, Fred; James, Lingard (Andreas, 67); Rashford (Young, 80)

Manchester United unused substitutes: Grant, Jones, Garner, Mata