The 23-year-old gave the Red Devils the upper hand in their crucial game against Leicester with a deft finish after an earlier loss
Marcus Rashford became the third youngest player to score 50 Premier League goals for Manchester United as he opened the scoring in the 2-2 draw against Leicester City on Saturday.
After missing a good chance in the opening minutes when he crossed from Bruno Fernandes’ cross, Rashford sent home his sixth league goal of the season to beat United 1-0 against the foxes.
At 23 years and 56 days old, Rashford is behind just Wayne Rooney (22 years and 157 days) and Cristiano Ronaldo (22 years 341 days) in terms of the youngest United players who have reached half a century of Premier League goals.
In the opener of Rashford – founded by Fernandes, who has been directly involved in more than half of United’s Premier League goals since his debut (31/59), scoring 18 and supporting 13 others – the Red Devils saw the score in an away game in the top flight for the first time since July 26, also against Leicester.
Comebacks have become a special and necessary thing to be late for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side thanks to an unscrupulous move to concede the first goal.
United’s lead lasted just eight minutes, however, when Harvey Barnes fell in a brilliant equalizer for Brendan Rodgers’ team.
Fernandes played his part again, surrendering possession in United’s third defensive spot, with Barnes ensuring the visitors were punished. The winger has scored seven goals in 20 games in all competitions this season, matching his outlook from the 2019-20 campaign (seven in 42 appearances).
Fernandes made a late rematch with a quick finish from a ball through Edinson Cavani, making him the first Portuguese player since Ronaldo to score 10 Premier League goals in a season. However, United were brought back shortly afterwards when Jamie Vardy filled a final for himself to share the points.
Rashford still has a way to go to match Rooney and Ronaldo’s ambitious goals. Rooney scored 183 Premier League goals for United, with Ronaldo scoring 84 before moving to Real Madrid.
Earlier in the week, manager Solskjaer said he believed Rashford could go on to become a United legend.
“Marcus is talented enough and well-established and well-directed enough to be a legend at this club,” he told reporters.
“I have to say his statistics already show what he put in. In and around the dressing room as well, he’s a Man Utd boy through and through.”