ERIK TEN HAG was left appreciating the improbable “s” in town as United took another stride toward earning a top-four finish.
Despite the ꜰᴀᴄᴛ that no one would ever classify Scott McTominay as a prolific midfielder, his game-winning strike against Everton brought his two-week tally to FIVE goals.
The Toffees’ defense was ultimately broken by McTominay’s goal in the 36th minute, which he turned and blasted in. This goal maintained United in the Champions League race.
This occurred after he equaled his club and national team goals total from the previous 18 months by scoring four goals in two games for Scotland over the break.
United deserved to win after dominating the Blues from the start, and Anthony Martial’s pivotal second goal completed a victory that never appeared in doubt.
Marcus Rashford hobbled off with 10 minutes left, creating doubts about whether he would play against Sevilla on Thursday in the Europa League, so it wasn’t all sunshine and flowers for manager 10 Hag.
At least Martial has returned to the field from the treatment table if Rashford is unable to participate in the opening leg of the quarterfinal.
United will surely need the Frenchman’s eye for goal because it took them a very long time to finish a game that they should have won before halftime.
They most likely would have if Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford hadn’t stopped them so many times.
He stopped Rashford’s half-hit attempt after first hesitating, deflected one Rashford drive, then made a clever challenge to stop the same player.
Just as he was going to fire, Ben Godfrey returned to sᴛᴇᴀʟ it off the Brazilian’s toe as a strong right arm deflected a fierce Antony sᴛʀᴏᴋᴇ.
It was practically the only time the Everton left-back earned his own personal on a terrible afternoon that concluded with him being hooked at halftime.
For the entire 45 minutes he remained on the field, Godfrey appeared to be twisting and running after yet another 50-yard ball.
It’s safe to sᴀʏ that he did not learn his lesson, but Sean Dyche’s decision to replace him with Vitalii Mykolenko, who is more agile, protected him from more punishment.
Everton was only fortunate that United’s situation at that point wasn’t much worse as they were ahead by a goal.
Currently, all they had to show for it was McTominay’s strike, which they didn’t get until the 36th minute.
By wobbling and racing across the box in search of a gap, Rashford established the foundation.
The ball broke to Jadon Sancho on the right, who took a few moves and snuck a precise pass for McTominay through a packed space when none appeared.
