MANCHESTER, England ( Associated Press) – Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho responded in style to brutal taunts from Leeds fans.
He scored in the second half as Manchester United came back from a two-goal deficit at Leeds to draw 2-2 in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The visiting fans at Old Trafford said, “He has let his country down.” Thus he referred to the fact that both attackers missed penalties in the shootout to decide the 2020 Euro Cup final, which England lost to Italy.
Sancho, who had come on as a substitute, rescued a point for Erik ten Haag’s club, who missed an opportunity to level on points with second-placed Manchester City.
“I’m really happy he’s moving in the right direction,” Ten Haag said of Sancho, who took time off from football at the start of the season to get his career back on track. “I hope he can keep up his momentum and I am sure it will make him stronger and more motivated.”
Leeds sacked Jesse Marsh on Monday. They haven’t won in the league since 5 November but have moved one point above the relegation zone.
The draw looked like a missed opportunity for both the rivals to grab more points in an exciting matchup.
Leeds stunned the crowd at Old Trafford by taking the lead after only 55 seconds through Wilfred Gonto. They looked set to win when Raphael Varane deflected Cresencio Somerville’s cross into his own net three minutes into the match.
United came back into the game in the 62nd minute through Rashford’s header. Sancho tied on 70.
But on a night when the Red Devils could have reduced leaders Arsenal’s lead to five points, they trailed the London side by seven with two more games to spare.
The double header against Leeds looked like an ideal opportunity for Man United to move closer to the top. In the league, both the teams will meet again on Sunday at Allen Road.
Leeds came to the commitment without a coach and without a win in the previous three months in the Premier League.
But with the interim form of Chris Armas, Michael Scubala and Paco Gallardo, Leeds threatened to ring the bell on nobody else’s house.
Ten Haag also had many problems to resolve, with the absence of the injured Christian Eriksen as well as two Brazilians: Antoni due to an illness and Casemiro due to suspension.
As a result, United looked weak in midfield and attack, despite newly acquired loanee Marcel Sabitzer making his first start since Bayern Munich transferred him on the last day of the term.
Leeds exposed the hosts’ weaknesses almost from the outset, with Gnoto’s low shot at the end of a drive into the box in the first minute past Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea.
Leeds increased their lead when Varane turned Somerville’s cross into the net.
Rashford scored with a header in the 62nd and Sancho equalized with a low shot into the crowded area.
Fulham Sail Adelante
In the FA Cup, Fulham booked their place in the fifth round with a 3–2 win in the tiebreaker against Sunderland.
Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira gave the Premier League club control, but Jack Clarke brought the locals closer.
Levin Kurzawa made it 3–1 before Jewison Bennett scored for the second-tier club.
Fulham will face Leeds in the next leg.
