Manchester, Jan 11 (BNA): Manchester United just can’t stop winning. Marcus Rashford can’t stop scoring.
Eight consecutive wins in all competitions for United secured a 3-0 victory over Third Division Charlton Athletic and secured a place in the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.
Rashford came on as a substitute in the 60th minute and had enough time to score twice, scoring for the sixth consecutive match.
As United look to end what will be a six-year trophy drought, Newcastle have a chance at claiming their first piece of silverware since 1955.
The club from the north-east of England dispatched Leicester 2-0 thanks to goals from Dan Byrne and Joelinton and climbed to the last four of the League Cup for the first time since 1976. Even 18 months into their new era, Newcastle may yet exceed expectations then. It quickly became a force in English football.
It is the latest positive step in encouraging seasons for two clubs who have also established themselves in the top four of the Premier League.
Newcastle and Man United, tied on points for third and fourth respectively, are in relentless form, with just one loss between them since September.
The other two quarter-final matches will be held on Wednesday, when Manchester City will visit Southampton and Nottingham Forest will host Wolverhampton in another Premier League match.
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Drawn against the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition, Manchester United manager Eric ten Hag managed to field a poor line-up against Charlton perhaps in light of Saturday’s league derby against Man City and still come off well.
“I said before the match, ‘No if, but or maybe, we should be in the semi-finals’ and we did the job,” Ten Hag said.
Brazilian winger Anthony received the ball from the right and curled a shot into the far corner from just outside the area to put the hosts ahead in the 21st minute at Old Trafford.
Rashford was one of three substitutes who came on the hour mark to finish off the game in the 90th minute in the midst of a counter-attack to end Charlton’s hopes.
The England forward then slotted in a left-footed shot after beating the offside trap, netting his 18th goal for club and country of the season.
Rashford has 15 goals and six assists in 25 games for United and is probably in the best form of his career.
United reached the semi-finals for the third time in four seasons. They were eliminated by City in the last four in 2020-21.
Easy for Newcastle
At St James’ Park, Dan Burn was the unlikely scorer of Newcastle’s stunning 60th-minute goal, as the tall left-back took a pass from Joelinton and raced through the Leicester defense before slithering home on a low finish.
“I like to get forward, it’s fun to watch a man of my size run into the box,” Byrne said after scoring his first goal for the team he grew up supporting.
“I was sitting in the east wing,” he added. “You’ve always wanted to score in front of Gallowgate End and it was amazing to do it in front of my family.”
Then Jolinton, who had hit the post earlier, scored himself in the 73rd minute with a low, angled shot.
The 1976 final was the only time Newcastle reached a League Cup match.