Celta Vigo 0 Manchester United 1: Marcus Rashford boosts Europa League hopes but adds to injury list vs Arsenal

Mourinho congratulates Rashford after his goal
Getty Images
Tom Doyle4 May 2017

Marcus Rashford struck a fine free-kick against Celta Vigo to hand Manchester United a 1-0 win and put Jose Mourinho's side on course for the Europa League final.

The young United forward deceived Celta goalkeeper with a curling effort 23 minutes from time to hand United a priceless away goal in the first leg of their semi-final, but limped off soon after to add to Mourinho's injury woes ahead of Sunday's crunch Premier League clash against Arsenal.

Mourinho also lost Ashley Young to an injury late on, with the latest setbacks set to further fuel the likelihood of the Portuguese coach fielding a weakened team against the Gunners in what will likely be a decisive match in the race for the top four.

England's last European representatives have travelled far and wide in their bid to win the only major continental trophy to have eluded them in their success-laden history.

Europa League glory also offers a route back to the Champions League - an increasingly important option given their Premier League struggles - and Mourinho's men are in the driving seat of this semi-final after Rashford's fine free-kick.

The away goal could prove crucial ahead of next week's return fixture at Old Trafford, where the Spanish side face an uphill battle to progress from their first major European semi-final.

Daniel Wass had given United an early scare but the visitors edged the first half, with Celta goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez staying strong to thwart Rashford, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard.

Sergio Romero did well to deny Pione Sisto as Celta threatened to punish United's all too familiar lack of killer instinct, only for Rashford to step up to the plate yet again.

Having sent United through to semi-final with his extra-time strike against Anderlecht, the 19-year-old settled the first leg with a second-half free-kick that sent the away support - and Mourinho - wild.

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