Marcus Rashford could have wilted after awful miss – instead he dragged Man Utd back from brink

After failing to win the FA Cup quarter-final for Manchester United against Liverpool in regular time, Marcus Rashford displayed a visible reaction to his missed opportunity. This moment was captured by Matthew Peters through Getty Images.

Andre Onana held onto Marcus Rashford's face, using both hands. He looked directly into Rashford's eyes and encouraged him to keep going and not give up. Benni McCarthy, the coach for the striker of Manchester United, quickly went over to offer comfort and support to Rashford. Erik ten Hag and his assistant, Steve McClaren, were also there, making an effort to prevent Rashford from losing his confidence.

The player wearing No. 10 for United had a great chance to win a memorable FA Cup match against a rival team, but he missed it with the final kick in regular time. He would have definitely taken advantage of such a chance in the previous season. Now, the team's staff at Old Trafford was anxious to have their striker clear his mind and pay attention again, especially since there were still 30 minutes of extra time left to play. Those crucial 30 minutes could make or break their entire season.

It's easy to see why people are worried. Throughout a tough campaign, Rashford has sometimes appeared to withdraw, lose confidence, and struggle with self-doubt when things go wrong.

During the first 35 minutes of the game, Rashford showed glimpses of his former self as he attacked aggressively. However, there were doubts about his defensive abilities when Jarell Quansah managed to get past him easily and assist in Liverpool's goal.

The player had been struggling with himself for about eight months and the final missed shot was a perfect representation of that struggle. However, his first move to control a beautiful pass from Christian Eriksen was perfect and his body position was also excellent for the finishing shot.

The opportunity presented itself for him to take a shot that was disguised and aimed low towards the nearby post. However, he decided to aim for the far corner instead, causing him to feel embarrassed and wish that he could disappear when the ball rolled wide of the goal.

It's unclear if the goal would have counted if Rashford had scored because he might have been slightly offside, but he wasn't aware of that possibility, and the outcome felt like another mistake caused by himself.

However, what occurred after the miss could potentially have a significant impact on Manchester United's season and the career of Erik ten Hag. Additionally, it might also be the spark that Marcus Rashford requires to regain his confidence and performance levels. On several occasions throughout this season, missing an opportunity like that could have caused Rashford to lose focus.

The fact that he reacted with such strong defiance during extra-time and didn't let it ruin his day - which may have even affected his entire season - says a lot about his character. He became a beloved goal scorer among fans when he netted the ball from Scott McTominay's pass in the 112th minute to tie the game at 3-3, starting off what would become an unforgettable comeback in the FA Cup.

Perhaps Rashford's quick reaction was aided by the fact that he didn't have a lot of time to contemplate his shot. He observed McTominay delivering a pass into his trajectory and he spontaneously hit the ball with force and precision into the desired target, which he had previously missed.

Rashford has smashed some substantial goals throughout his journey with United, however this one carried an immense importance for both himself and the overall team, leading the path for the exceptional final goal by Amad Diallo. This goal completed his third consecutive score in three matches, and he may aspire to continue this hot streak as he had in the past season.

He missed more than once during the game. Before the end of the first half of extra time, he had a chance to score but he ended up shooting the ball outside the target, even though there was no goalkeeper to stop him. However, he might have realized that he was already in an offside position while making his way towards the goal.

Overall, it can be inferred that Ten Hag would have felt positive about the fact that Rashford displayed a clear goal, enthusiasm, a sense of urgency, and determination in his offensive performance.

McTominay had a great opportunity to give United a 2-0 lead in the first half thanks to a beautiful pass from Rashford. However, Kelleher saved the shot and prevented Rashford from scoring earlier in the match.

The task at hand - for both Rashford and United - is to make sure that this declaration results in a consequential outcome within the following two months.

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