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The live coverage of the EFL Cup semi-final clash between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United followed what turned out to be a routine 3-0 win for the visitors thanks to Rashford, Weghorst and Bruno.
- Here's what is being said about the game
- Here's one of the standout players on the night Lisandro Martinez giving his post-game thoughts.
- Manchester United are one game away from the final in Wembley while unfortunately for Nottingham Forest, they have to do this again in the semi-final second leg.
- FULL-TIME whistle at the City Ground, the game is over and most likely so is the tie. The EFL Cup semi-final first leg ends Nottingham Forest 0-3 Manchester United.
- Bruno Fernandes connects wonderfully with a pass from substitute Anthony Elanga to drive home a low strike into the bottom corner and give his new manager Roberto Martinez something to cheer.
- 89' GOAL! MANCHESTER UNITED!! BRUNO FERNANDES!!!
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- Southgate has a number of options to watch with 12 England-eligible players involved for both teams combined but I'm sure Rashford's 56 minutes would have left him very satisfied.
- Still no goals to report in the second half after 75 minutes but I can tell you that we have special guests at the City Ground, England boss Gareth Southgate and newly-appointed Portugal manager Roberto Martinez are in attendance.
- 64' Nottingham Forest are making a double change in hopes of turning their fortunes around as Manchester United old boy Jesse Lingard and Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis come in to replace Gustavo Scarpa and Sam Surridge respectively.
- Rashford's goal put him in elite company with Carlos Tevez and Erling Haaland, for what? you ask, stick with PULSE SPORT'S live coverage of the game to find out.
- 56' Marcus Rashford is taken off and replaced by exciting youngster Alejandro Garnacho. Perhaps United boss Erik Ten Hag believes this game to be won and would prefer to keep his star man for more important games.
- 53' Christian Eriksen hits the angle of post and bar with a well-placed shot as United continues to establish dominance since the start of the second half.
- Centre referee Michael Oliver blows the whistle to signal the start of the second half in what looks like a routine win for Manchester United except Nottingham Forest can somehow pull an unlikely comeback.
- So as we catch our breath at the end of an exhilarating first half, let us relive the decisive moments being Marcus Rashford's early solo goal and Wout Weghorst's rebound finish in the closing moments of the half.
- HALF-TIME at the City Ground and there is no fairytale underdog story here, just Manchester United being rude house guests and beating their hosts into submission. NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED at the break.
- 45' 2-0 UNITED!!! WOUT WEGHORST finally gets off the mark in red (well technically white today as Manchester United are in their change strip) to double their advantage on the stroke of half-time.
- Nottingham Forest seem to have overcome the shock of conceding first and early grown into the game but Marcus Rashford's goal remains the decisive moment of the first half just under eight minutes to the break.
- WAAAITTTT!!! It appears the wild celebrations at the City Ground are premature. Sam Surridge indeed finished off a brilliant team move for Nottingham Forest but VAR intervenes to disallow the goal for a marginal offside call.
- 22' GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLL!!! NOTTINGHAM FOREST ARE LEVEL!!!! SAM SURRIDGE!!!
- That makes it 10 goals and three assists in the last 10 games for MARCUS ...MBE... BROTHER THERESA...RASHFORD!!!
- The hottest man on the planet right now received the ball in his own half on his favourite left wing and went on a run right past two Nottingham Forest players like they weren't even there and finished with authority into Wayne Hennessey's near post to give United the lead after just six minutes of play.
- 6' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!! MANCHESTER UNITED!!!!!!! And there are no prizes for guessing the goalscorer, none other than MARCUS RASHFORD!
- Speaking of starting xis, Manchester United are boosted by Casemiro's return from suspension, Victor Lindelof and Tyrell Malacia are the only other changes to the side that lost to Arsenal on Sunday.
- The problem with that is, Nottingham Forest have not beaten Manchester United since December 1994. For context, only four of their starting xi tonight (Wayne Hennessey, Serge Aurier, Gustavo Scarpa and Remo Freuler) were even alive at the time.
- Steve Cooper's Nottingham Forest are struggling in the league but flying in the cup and must now defeat Manchester United over two legs to complete the fairytale run to the final.
- Manchester United pull up at the City Ground for this first-leg game as overwhelming favourites over their struggling hosts Nottingham Forest.
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