THE unlikely setting of Colchester United’s Community Stadium provided the ground for two of Europe’s hottest young talents to come face-to-face.
England’s Marcus Rashford came up against Norway’s Martin Odegaard, and on this showing there is only one man destined for the top.
IMAGE: PA:Press Association
IMAGE: Arfa Griffiths / Griffiths Photo
Rashford stole the show as the Manchester United man bagged a hat-trick on his Under-21s debut and left the much-publicised Real Madrid ace well and truly in his shadow.
Odegaard, who was named in Real Madrid’s Champions League squad and was deployed at the tip of the visitors midfield, seemed physically incapable of making an impact against the larger home defence.
And any talk of a potential loan move to the Premier League looks a million miles away at present until he is able to handle that physicality.
IMAGE: Arfa Griffiths / Griffiths Photo
IMAGE: Arfa Griffiths / Griffiths Photo
It may just have been a bad night for the youngster, but enough about him, let’s talk Rashford.
The teen sensation is obviously brimming with confidence and his first two finishes epitomised everything about his performance.
Each time he picked up the ball he looked to cause a threat and left the opposition terrified with his electric pace.
And with two in the bag already, he had no doubts about picking up the ball to convert the spot-kick for his third.
related stories
Here’s a quick look at the key moments of the Rashford and Odegaard battle:
|
2 mins: Rashford charges forward after picking up the ball in the centre of the field. He tries to break through down the right but is tackled
10 mins: First bit of showboating from the Rash, but unfortunately he can’t pull off the rabona cross as he hits it straight at the defender 13 mins: Here we go! The two teen prodigies come together and it is Rashford who is left grounded on the floor after Odegaard’s late challenge on halfway. 29 mins: GOAL Like a flash of lightning Rashford latches onto a Nat Chalobah throughball and races clear of the defence, keeps his cool and sidefoots it past the keeper to break the deadlock 31 mins: The adrenaline is pumping now as he charges down the keeper who has received a backpass but the shotstopper scrambles it to safety |
IMAGE: PRiME Media Images Limited
IMAGE: Telephoto Images
48 mins: Odegaard has his first shot on target from 25 yards but Angus Gunn smothers it easily
49 mins: Rashford gets the ball down the right of the area and attempts a clever flick past Kristoffer Haraldseid. Unfortunately, the right-back manages to get his body in the way of the ball and clears the danger
53 mins: Keep it calm Rash! The hotshot is punished for apparently winning a shoulder charge against Haraldseid. The Norwegian centre-half Sander Berge could not resist getting himself involved, shoving the England No9 as he tried to block the quick free-kick
55 mins: Great chance for Rashford to grab his second and the Young Lions’ third goal. Ruben Loftus-Cheek spotted the striker free down the left. He controlled the ball, cut back onto his left foot, but his effort was straight at goalkeeper Sondre Rossbach
IMAGE: Reuters
IMAGE: Reuters
IMAGE: Corbis
66 mins: GOAL Rashford scores again! With three men around him, he confidently strides forward in similar to vein to his strike against West Ham last season in the FA Cup, opens up his body and strokes the ball into the top right corner from the edge of the area, albeit via a slight deflection.
71 mins: GOAL AND IT’S A HAT-TRICK! England win a penalty and usual spot-kick taker James Ward-Prowse is happy to hand the responsibility over to Rashford who confidently steps up to claim the matchball.
85 mins: Rashford is replaced by Chuba Akpom and receives a standing ovation for his performance.
Leave a comment