Double debut delight as Rashford rescues United

United, who secured a 6-3 aggregate win, looked on their way out when Pione Sisto gave the Danes the lead but an own goal by Nikolay Bodurov, Rashford’s double, an Ander Herrera penalty and a late goal from Memphis Depay saw them safely through. They will be joined in Friday’s draw by one of the most appealing last-16 lineups in recent seasons with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, Villarreal and holders Sevilla among those marching on. Louis van Gaal’s United side looked set to endure another frustrating night when they fell behind to Sisto’s opener, a superb jinking run and sharp finish from the edge of the area after 28 minutes putting the visitors in control. 

After last week’s surprise 2-1 first leg success, the Danes seemed to be heading for a famous upset but four minutes later a Memphis cross was turned into his own net by Midtjylland’s Bodurov and the muted fans inside Old Trafford came to life.

Juan Mata had a penalty saved but United kept coming forward and Rashford’s first goal arrived in the 63rd when he lashed Mata’s pull-back into the net before he gave United the lead on aggregate with a sharp first-time finish 12 minutes later. Herrera slammed home from the spot with two minutes remaining and Depay drove in a fifth in stoppage time. Five former European champions were among the contenders in the first knockout round of the continent’s second-tier competition, which since last season has carried the added incentive of a place in the Champions League for the winners. The Europa League is almost certainly Liverpool’s best hope of competing with the continent’s elite next term but the five-times European Cup winners, who have fallen off the pace in the Premier League, were made to sweat in a 1-0 win over Augsburg. 

Having played out a goalless draw in the first leg, Juergen Klopp’s side spurned several chances after James Milner’s early spot kick and survived a nervy finale at Anfield. There was no such tension for Tottenham who eased past Fiorentina 3-0 with strikes from Ryan Mason and Erik Lamela plus a Gonzalo Rodriguez own goal wrapping up a 4-1 aggregate win.