MANCHESTER: Teenage striker Marcus Rashford enhanced his reputation by stepping up in the absence of the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic to steer Manchester United into the Europa League semifinals with an extra-time winner against Anderlecht.
Showing coolness beyond his years, Rashford deceived two defenders in the penalty area with a Cruyff turn and slotted home a shot in the 107th minute to give United a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
United advanced 3-2 on aggregate to join Lyon, Ajax and Celta Vigo in the last four, after a tension-filled night of quarterfinal second legs in Europe's second-tier continental club competition.
The Europa League was the competition in which Rashford made his senior breakthrough last season, scoring twice on debut against FC Midtjylland as an 18-year-old unknown. He's now an England international and one of the hottest prospects in European soccer.
Rashford may have to take on the mantle of being United's chief striker for the last month of the season after Ibrahimovic hobbled off in the final minutes of normal time after hyperextending his right knee on landing, having chested down a long ball into the area.
The Swedish striker appeared to be in pain and held his head in his hands as he was being treated.
"Fairly negative," Mourinho said of injuries to Ibrahimovic and center back Marcos Rojo, who went off injured in the first half.
There is barely a month left in Ibrahimovic's first season at United, and he is yet to commit to another year.
With the teams level at 1-1 after the first leg in Belgium last week, Henrikh Mkhitaryan put United ahead on aggregate with a 10th-minute strike at Old Trafford only for Sofiane Hanni to equalize in the 31st.
The draw for the Europa League semifinals takes place Friday.
Here's a look at how the other quarterfinal matches turned out:
BESIKTAS 2, LYON 1 (3-3 on aggregate, Lyon advanced 7-6 on penalties):
Lyon's players held their nerve to beat Besiktas in a tense penalty shootout.
The first 12 spot kicks were clinically struck, before Dusko Tosic had a penalty saved for Besiktas and right back Christophe Jallet blazed over for Lyon.
Besiktas center back Matej Mitrovic then missed for the home side, and Lyon made no mistake with its second chance to go through when club captain Maxime Gonalons converted.
In an exciting game played at a relentless pace, Brazilian forward Talisca scored twice either side of striker Alexandre Lacazette's brilliant finish.
Last week's match was marred by widespread fighting among rival fans inside and outside the stadium, leading to both teams being given suspended one-season bans from European competition. There was no repeat of the trouble in Istanbul.
Lyon advanced to its third European semifinal, after reaching the last four of the Champions League in 2010 and the now-defunct European Cup Winners' Cup in 1964.
SCHALKE 3, AJAX 2 (Ajax advances 4-3 on aggregate):N This was the third quarterfinal to go to extra time, with Ajax advancing following late goals by Nick Viergever and Amin Younes and reaching it first European semifinal since 1997.
Trailing 2-0 after the first leg, Schalke scored twice in four minutes early in the second half through Leon Goretzka and Guido Burgstaller to take the game to extra time.
Daniel Caligiuri's header in the 101st put Schalke — the 1997 champion when the competition was called the UEFA Cup — in front, but Ajax finished stronger.
GENK 1, CELTA VIGO 1 (Celta advances 4-3 on aggregate):
Celta stayed on course to extend Spain's domination of this competition by advancing to a semifinal of a top European club competition for the first time.
Sisto completed a driving run with a stunning strike to put Celta 1-0 up on the night and leave Genk needing two goals to advance on away goals.
Leandro Trossard scored one of them in the 68th but Celta held on.
Sevilla and Atletico Madrid have won the Europa League or UEFA Cup seven times in the past 11 years.
Rashford steers Man United into Europa League semifinals
Rashford steers Man United into Europa League semifinals
San Francisco 49ers launch Nextgen Flag Football program in UAE
DUBAI: The San Francisco 49ers launched on Monday their NextGen Flag Football program to introduce the game into school curricula in the UAE.
The US team are collaborating with GEMS Education, the largest network of schools in the country, serving 125,000 students. The program was rolled out to select GEMS schools earlier this year, with plans for more to join in January 2026.
The program will equip participating schools with gear, curriculum resources, and coaching support, to help teachers integrate flag football into their physical education lessons, the team stated in a press release.
The team added: “At the end of each season, the program will culminate in a flag football tournament, bringing together participating schools to compete and demonstrate the skills developed in their classes.”
The launch follows several 49ers flag football clinics at GEMS schools earlier this year, including the first event of its kind hosted by an NFL team in the UAE at GEMS World Academy Senior School.
During these events, 49ers representatives trained more than 24 physical education teachers in the fundamentals of coaching flag football, before leading hands-on sessions with students.
Participants took part in NFL-style practice drills, played introductory flag tag games. There was a special appearance from the 49ers’ mascot, Sourdough Sam, who attended to cheer on the students.
Justin Prettyman, executive director of the 49ers Foundation, stated: “We’re thrilled to launch NextGen Flag Football and to work with GEMS going forward.
“By introducing students to the fundamentals of flag football, we’re not just teaching a game; we’re helping them develop teamwork, confidence, and leadership skills that will last a lifetime.”
Jay Varkey, deputy CEO, GEMS Education, stated that they are committed to providing students “with a truly holistic education that nurtures not only academic excellence but also character, teamwork, and resilience.
“Our collaboration with the San Francisco 49ers reflects this vision, bringing world-class sporting expertise into our schools through the NextGen Flag Football program.
The launch of NextGen Flag Football in the UAE reflects the 49ers expanding international footprint under the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
In March, the team was awarded activation rights in the UAE, building on its program in the UK and Mexico, where local fanbases have grown by more than 50 percent, the team stated.
Since 2021, the 49ers have hosted over 50 community events across those regions.
