Thursday 14 April 2016 12:45, UK
Manchester United bounced back from Sunday's defeat to Tottenham with a 2-1 win over West Ham to reach the FA Cup semi-finals. Once again, their talented young players stole the limelight…
Louis van Gaal's celebration told its own story. The pressure on the Manchester United manager reached new heights in the wake of Sunday's 3-0 defeat by Tottenham, but when Marcus Rashford's stunning strike rippled the back of the net at Upton Park he leapt out of his chair and roared in ecstasy.
The goal certainly befitted the reaction, and the Dutchman was on his feet again when Marouane Fellaini bundled home Anthony Martial's deflected effort to double the advantage. James Tomkins pulled one back for West Ham to set up a nerve-shredding finale, but United held firm to book a Wembley date with Everton.
Even lifting the FA Cup may not be enough to keep Van Gaal at Old Trafford beyond this season, but if he does survive it will owe a lot to the opportunities he has offered Manchester United's exciting youngsters. They have provided a major positive in a season of strife for the club, and there was plenty more to get excited about on a frantic night in east London.
Rashford's brilliant goal will live long in the memory for Manchester United supporters. The youngster's fearless running had caused West Ham plenty of problems in the first half, and his big moment arrived when Michail Antonio's misplaced pass put the hosts in trouble nine minutes after the break.
Anthony Martial slid the ball into the 18-year-old's feet, and he twisted one way and the other before curling a stunning shot in off the underside of the bar. It was Rashford's sixth goal in 11 appearances since his scintillating breakthrough in February, and the returning Wayne Rooney, his replacement in the 89th minute, must be sweating on his starting spot.
It was not for the first time this season that United's starting XI has had an average age of under 25. Rashford was energetically supported by Martial and Jesse Lingard on either flank, and there was another eye-catching performance from Timothy Fosu-Mensah at right-back.
After events at White Hart Lane on Sunday, it was no surprise to see the 18-year-old keep his place at the expense of Matteo Darmian. Fosu-Mensah was outstanding until injury forced him off midway through the second half on Sunday, and United's capitulation after his withdrawal was no coincidence.
Three days on from his first Premier League start up against Christian Eriksen, the youngster's baptism of fire continued against PFA Player of the Year nominee Dimitri Payet. The Frenchman has bordered on unstoppable in recent weeks, but his teenage marker was unperturbed, and he emerged from the contest with his burgeoning reputation enhanced.
Fosu-Mensah made his presence felt with several uncompromising challenges and interceptions, and he also combined well with Lingard at the other end. In total, two of his four crosses found a Manchester United team-mate, with Rashford spurning a scoring opportunity from one accurate low delivery in the second half.
The young Dutchman only turned 18 in January but he has has taken his rapid introduction to first team football in his stride, and he had no trouble adjusting to left-back when Antonio Valencia replaced Marcos Rojo in the closing stages.
Like Rashford, the youngster appears to have nailed down his place in their starting XI - and Van Gaal deserves credit for making it happen. United have fallen well short of expectations in each of the Dutchman's seasons in charge, but he has handed debuts to 11 academy graduates in total, and his devotion to youth is a cause for celebration.
It may not be enough to prolong his Old Trafford tenure, but it's largely thanks to those youngsters that a disappointing season may yet end on a high note. Lifting the FA Cup would be a fitting way for their class of 2016 to kick things off.
