Manchester United put a foot forward in the English Football League Cup final, by defeating Nottingham Forest 3-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals on Wednesday.
Marcus Rashford continued his impressive form and opened the scoring with a beautiful individual goal (6), while Dutch newcomer Vout Fijkhorst scored his first goal with United after his arrival at the beginning of the year (45), before adding Portuguese Bruno Fernandes III (89).
United aspires to reach the League Cup final for the tenth time in its history and the first since 2017 when it was crowned under the leadership of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, and it was the last year in which it was crowned with any title.
If he qualifies, he will meet in the final with Newcastle or Southampton, knowing that the former put a foot in the summit match with a 1-0 victory outside his stronghold on Tuesday.
United entered the match after losing in the last minute to its host Arsenal 3-2, the league leaders, in the Premier League competitions on Sunday.
Dutch coach Erik Ten Hag pushed a full starting lineup, including Brazilian Casemiro, who missed the Arsenal match, to be suspended.
Rashford opened the scoring with a wonderful goal when he broke out on the left corridor alone, penetrated into the penalty area and fired with his left hand into the narrow corner, scoring his tenth goal in 10 matches in all competitions since the competition resumed after the Qatar World Cup, and he is the only player in the five major leagues to achieve this.
Rashford became the first player to score five goals in one season in the League Cup for United since Argentine Carlos Teves (6 in the 2008-2009 season).
A goal for Nottingham Forest by Sam Surridge was ruled out for offside after returning to the video assistant referee (VAR) (24).
Fijkhorst, who arrived at United on loan until the end of the season from Turkish Besiktas, who was on loan from Burnley, scored the second goal after the goalkeeper blocked a powerful shot by the Brazilian Anthony from the outskirts of the area, to prepare the ball in front of the Dutchman, who followed it into the net (45).
Ten Hag made many changes in the second half, comforting Rashford, Anthony and others, and Fernandez scored the third goal with a low shot on the bird from the outskirts of the area, creeping into the net (89).
The second leg will be held at Old Trafford next Wednesday.