Rashford, Sancho answer taunts with goals

MANCHESTER, England — In the face of cruel taunts from Leeds fans, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho responded in style.

Both players scored in a rousing second-half fightback as Manchester United came from behind on Wednesday to salvage a 2-2 draw in the Premier League.

"You let your country down," chanted the away section at Old Trafford, in reference to the United forwards missing penalties in England's Euro 2020 final shootout defeat to Italy.

But 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 first team.

Sancho's contribution felt particularly significant after he was given time off earlier this season in a bid to kick-start 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," said United manager Erik ten Hag. "He is a brilliant footballer and if he can invest in the right levels he can be outstanding."

Both Rashford and Sancho have taken time to get back on track after the disappointment of the Euros, which saw them subjected to racist abuse afterward, along with Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, who also missed a penalty.

Rashford, however, is producing possibly the finest form of his career this season, while Saka is a key part of Arsenal's title challenge.

It has not been the same story for Sancho, who has struggled for consistency since joining United from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.

That led to Ten Hag giving him a break until he came on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest last week in what was his first appearance since October.

With United looking like suffering a shock defeat to relegation-fighting Leeds after going 2-0 down early in the second half, Sancho was given his chance to make an impact and didn't disappoint with a clinical finish to salvage a draw.

"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 fightback was, it couldn't shake the sense that its title ambitions had been dealt a blow.

Leeds, without a manager following the firing of Jesse Marsch on Monday and facing a desperate fight for survival, came close to consigning United to a first home defeat in the league since the opening day of the season after goals from Wilfried Gnonto after just one minute and Raphael Varane's own-goal early in the second half.

A point leaves third-placed United still seven points adrift of leader Arsenal, having played two games more.

The draw is more valuable to Leeds, who edges one point clear of the relegation zone.

"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."

Casemiro missed

United badly missed the presence of the suspended Casemiro in midfield, which allowed Leeds to counter-attack at will.

Gnonto has been a consistent bright spark of an otherwise sad season for Leeds and exploded the game into life after just 60 seconds as he found the bottom corner for his fourth goal in seven games.

United should have been level by halftime as Alejandro Garnacho fired just wide and then saw a shot cleared off the line by Max Woeber after the Argentine had rounded Illan Meslier.

However, the home side was slow out of the blocks after the break and were punished.

Gnonto was at the heart of the move again as he released Crysencio Summerville down the left and his cross was turned into his own net by Raphael Varane.

"I think it instills belief in the players that they are good enough at this level," said Skubala, who remains unsure if he will be in charge for the visit of United to Elland Road on Sunday.

"They know that and we know that and we just need to go after every game between now and the end of the season."

Ten Hag turned to his bench for solutions and found them in Sancho and Facundo Pellistri to replace the ineffectual Wout Weghorst and Garnacho.

Weghorst's withdrawal put Rashford through the middle and within minutes he rose highest to meet Diogo Dalot's cross for his 12th goal in 14 games since the World Cup.

Agencies