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Marouane Fellaini netted in stoppage time to earn Manchester United a 1-0 victory over Young Boys at Old Trafford on Tuesday and booked them a spot in the last 16 of the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League.
It was a much-needed result for the Red Devils after their 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday and continued their positive run in Europe.
The Group H encounter looked to be petering out to another goalless draw for United. But Romelu Lukaku‘s flick-on from Luke Shaw’s long ball found Fellaini in the box, and the Belgian finished in the bottom corner to the delight of Jose Mourinho and the home crowd.
Rashford Deserves No. 9 Spot Long Term Despite Misses
Marcus Rashford endured another frustrating evening at Old Trafford as he missed numerous chances playing in the No. 9 role.
He had a fantastic opportunity to open the scoring early on when he was put beyond the defence by a long ball from Shaw, but he could only lift his effort over the bar. It was the first of many spurned chances.
But with Romelu Lukaku currently enduring a miserable barren spell, and Alexis Sanchez out of form, the Englishman deserves more game time in the central striker’s role.
Unlike Lukaku of late, Rashford does at least get into good positions and stretches opposition defences when playing through the middle:
Samuel Luckhurst @samuelluckhurst
Rashford in a microcosm, this half. Bright, good movement, trying but falling short. You can’t pin the decision-making on Mourinho. Though some will doubtless try to. #mufc
The 21-year-old needs to improve his finishing, but he cannot do that if he is not given the opportunity.
Rashford also needs his confidence boosting, and Mourinho can do just that by keeping faith in him in the No. 9 role.
If Lukaku were playing well and scoring goals there would be no sense in replacing him with Rahsford.
But United have been so poor going forward this season Mourinho has little to lose in changing things up.
And Rashford playing in the middle of a front three between Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard has the potential for excitement.
What’s Next?
United visit Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, a fine chance to get back to winning ways in the English top flight against a side winless in their last nine league matches.
Young Boys, meanwhile, are back in action in the Swiss Super League as they take on second-placed Basel on Sunday.
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