PL: Rashfords injury-time winner sinks West Ham, sends Man Utd into top 4

Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score an injury-time winner as Manchester United replaced West Ham United in the Premier League top four with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Saturday.

This was the second game in a row that Rashford has scored in after coming off the bench. The 24-year-old also netted in the 3-1 win at Brentford on Wednesday after starting that game from the bench. 

The England international tapped in a cross from Edinson Cavani, another second-half substitute, in one of the few clear chances for either side on the night. 

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The move also involved Anthony Martial, United’s third substitute, as interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s move to finish with a top-heavy side paid dividends. 

“All were involved. That makes it even more important,” Rangnick said. 

It capped a good week for the Red Devils, who won away at Brentford on Wednesday and climbed to fourth spot, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season alive. 

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“It is obviously an important goal and such late on is an amazing feeling. We have to use that winning feeling,” Rashford, who scored in back-to-back games for the first time this season, said. 

Cristiano Ronaldo was not substituted this time but the Portuguese superstar failed to make an impact against a resiliant Hammers. The closest he came to scoring was when he narrowly missed out on Bruno Fernandes’ cross in the first half.

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David Moyes’ side came close to breaking the deadlock in the second half, when Tomas Soucek headed wide and David de Gea parried away a deflected cross. 

“To be naïve like that and give away a goal in the last 20 seconds is devastating,” West Ham midfielder Declan Rice said. “When they were pushing players forward, we are such a counterattacking side we still had the energy to go forward. It was a real kick in the teeth to concede that late.”