The introduction of Marcus Rashford in the 63rd minute turned a 1-0 Manchester United lead over RB Leipzig into a 5-0 bloodbath with the chivalrous young forward recording a hat trick over the course of an unplayable cameo.
Julian Nagelsmann and Leipzig have shown that there’s life after Timo Werner by topping the early Bundesliga table with four wins and a draw, but Ole Gunnar Solskjær counteracted some of the German side’s slickness by fielding a midfield diamond with Nemanja Matić at the base, Fred and Paul Pogba in the middle and Donny van de Beek furthest forward.
That decision got the best from Pogba, who strode forward in the 21st minute before releasing Mason Greenwood for a cracking angular finish off the base of the far post.
Greenwood is now United’s second-youngest UCL goalscorer behind Wayne Rooney.
¡Gooooooooool del Manchester United!
Mason Greenwood marca el primer gol de este partido en al 21'@ManUtd_Es 0 - 0 @RBLeipzig_EN #UCL | #MUFC | #RBLeipzig | #MUNRBL
En vivo
https://t.co/E40q8gHdBc pic.twitter.com/ASLeIHacO8— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 28, 2020
Victor Lindelöf and Harry Maguire did what was asked of them in central defense, but it was Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka who really shone by continuously winning their one-on-one duels out wide.
The one goal felt like it could be enough with United looking this solid, but Solskjær brought on Rashford and Bruno Fernandes and the two combined for a strange goal in the 74th minute after the striker collected a pass from the midfielder and converted long after the linesman’s flag had gone up.
However, replays showed that Rashford had been in his own half when Fernandes’ pass was played and the goal was given.
Gooool, gol, gooooool de @MarcusRashford
En vivo
https://t.co/E40q8gHdBc pic.twitter.com/g1aGu0jxgZ— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 28, 2020
Two quickly became three after Fred disrupted Leipzig’s build-up, the ball fell to Rashford and he diced Dayot Upamecano before finishing.
Doblete de @MarcusRashford
En vivo
https://t.co/E40q8gHdBc pic.twitter.com/5Kgfo64ivj— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 28, 2020
Things got embarrassing for Leipzig when Anthony Martial was brought down in the area in the 87th minute and dusted himself off to convert the penalty. The pass leading to the penalty was provided by Rashford, but he rejected the opportunity to score a quick hat trick by allowing the out-of-form Martial to take it.
I don’t know what we did to deserve Rashford, but we must protect him.
¡Goooooool, @AnthonyMartial redondea la goleada ante el Leipzig!
En vivo
https://t.co/E40q8gHdBc pic.twitter.com/33hQtMG5Bj— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 28, 2020
But in the second minute of stoppage time, Martial returned the favor by providing the pass for Rashford to get his hat trick.
¡El tercero para @MarcusRashford!
Rashford sentencia al Leipzig, es increíble 3 goles en solo 27' para este jugador@ManUtd_Es 5 - 0 @RBLeipzig_EN #UCL | #MUFC | #RBLeipzig | #MUNRBL
En vivo
https://t.co/E40q8gHdBc pic.twitter.com/e7k9obSUbT— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) October 28, 2020
United now tops Group H with six points from two matches. PSG and Leipzig have three while Istanbul Basaksehir has zero.
The Red Devils play Arsenal in Premier League action on Sunday (Nov. 1) before traveling to Istanbul to play Basaksehir next Wednesday (Nov. 4).