In the face of taunts from spectators on Wednesday, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho responded in style, with both scoring in a rousing second-half comeback as Manchester United rallied to salvage a 2-2 Premier League draw against Leeds United.
“You let your country down,” fans chanted in the away section at Old Trafford, bringing back painful memories of the United forwards’ penalty misses in England’s UEFA Euro 2020 final shoot-out defeat against Italy.
However, by the end of the game Rashford had scored his 20th goal of the season in all competitions to start United’s comeback and Sancho had equalized to mark his return to the team.
Photo: AFP
Sancho’s effort was significant after he was given time off earlier this season in a bid to reignite his career.
“I am really happy he is in the right direction, I hope he can keep his momentum going, and I am sure it will strengthen him and motivate him even more,” United manager Erik ten Hag said. “He is a brilliant footballer and if he can invest in the right levels he can be outstanding.”
With United facing a shock loss to relegation-fighting Leeds after going 2-0 down early in the second half, Sancho was given his chance to make an impact and did not disappoint with a clinical finish to salvage a draw.
Photo: AP
“I wanted a different dynamic. In that moment we weren’t in the game. Luckily it succeeded because we scored two goals,” Ten Hag said. “He’s all the way back. We know he’s a magnificent player. I think consistently he can have a big impact.”
As rousing as United’s comeback was, it could not shake the sense that their title ambitions had been dealt a blow.
Leeds, without a manager following the firing of Jesse Marsch on Monday and struggling for survival in the top flight, went close to consigning Manchester United to a first home defeat in the league since the opening day of the season after Wilfried Gnonto struck just 55 seconds into the match and Raphael Varane put the ball into his own net early in the second half.
Rashford and Sancho rescued a point, but Manchester United remain seven off leaders Arsenal, having played two games more.
“Mixed feelings. Of course in the end we were happy to win a point, but we dropped two points,” Ten Hag said. “It’s a very bad start, unacceptable, especially in a derby you have to be ready to battle and take responsibility. We didn’t do that.”
In the FA Cup, Fulham booked a place in the fifth round with a 3-2 win in their replay against Sunderland.
Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira put the Premier League club in control, but Jack Clarke pulled one back for the home team.
Layvin Kurzawa made it 3-1 before Jewison Bennette struck for second-tier Sunderland.
Fulham face Leeds in the next round.
Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei and partner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia yesterday advanced to the women’s doubles final at the Australian Open after defeating New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe and Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada 7-6 (7/3), 3-6, 6-3 in their semi-final. Hsieh has won nine Grand Slam doubles titles and has a shot at a 10th tomorrow, when the Latvian-Taiwanese duo are to play Taylor Townsend of the US and Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in the championship match at the A$96.5 million (US$61 million) outdoor hard court tournament at Melbourne Park. Townsend and Siniakova eliminated Russian pair Diana Shnaider and Mirra Andreeva 6-7
Manchester City have reached do-or-die territory in the UEFA Champions League earlier than expected ahead of what Pep Guardiola has described as a “final” against Club Brugge today. City have disproved the suggestion a new format to Europe’s top club competition would remove any jeopardy for the top clubs as Guardiola stares down the barrel of failing to make the Champions League knockout stages for the first time in his career. The English champions have endured a torrid season both in their English Premier League title defense and on the continent. A run of one win in 13 games, which included Champions League
FINAL WEEK LOOMS: PSG rose to 22nd place to set up another tense challenge against 24th-placed Stuttgart, while Man City require victory against Club Brugge Manchester City are on the brink of a humiliating UEFA Champions League exit after a stunning loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, while Real Madrid is no longer at risk after routing Salzburg. Man City blew a two-goal lead in a high-stakes clash of super-wealthy underachievers that PSG won 4-2 in Paris, who could still be eliminated alongside the English champions after the final round of games next week. Only the top 24 in the 36-team standings are to advance. Man City, the 2023 champions, are in 25th place, but could squeeze into the knockout playoffs round by beating Club Brugge. “We will
Things are somewhat out of control at the Australian Open this year, and that has only a little to do with the results on the courts. Yes, there were some upsets, including Madison Keys eliminating No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the women’s singles semi-finals on Thursday. It also was the first time since 1990 that three teenagers beat top-10 men’s seeds at a Grand Slam tennis tournament. The loser of one of those matches, Daniil Medvedev, got fined US$76,000 for behaving badly. Last year’s women’s singles runner-up exited in the first round. However, the real fuss is happening elsewhere. The rowdy fans, for one
RSS