Some players were spent and rolled flat on their backs. Others struggled to stay upright. No, this wasn’t your average Thursday night out with Marcus Rashford, we had just witnessed a quite stupendous contest between Manchester United and Wolves.

By the end of 90 minutes and a crazy nine minutes of added time, these two teams had punched themselves to a standstill. Exhaustion had set in.

Rashford had left the stage by then. It needed something pretty special to steal the headlines from him here at Molineux, and young Kobbie Mainoo provided it in the 97th minute with his second goal of the week, and the one that made all the difference in a seven-goal thriller.

Like Rashford, Mainoo is a product of United’s famed academy and a diamond at that. He is a teenager who displays a talent and temperament beyond his years. When United needed him to keep a cool head in the madness of the final minutes here, he didn’t let them down.

Erik ten Hag’s side had just given up a two-goal lead for the second time in five days. Wolves are better than Newport County, but they shouldn’t have been allowed back into this contest.

Kobbie Mainoo (left) was Man United's match-winner with a stunning 97th-minute goal

Kobbie Mainoo (left) was Man United's match-winner with a stunning 97th-minute goal

Kobbie Mainoo (left) was Man United’s match-winner with a stunning 97th-minute goal

The 18-year-old sensation hit an incredibly worked winner from outside the box to clinch a thrilling contest at Molineux

The 18-year-old sensation hit an incredibly worked winner from outside the box to clinch a thrilling contest at Molineux

The 18-year-old sensation hit an incredibly worked winner from outside the box to clinch a thrilling contest at Molineux 

Mainoo lets out a roar after netting his first Premier League goal for United at a crucial moment

Mainoo lets out a roar after netting his first Premier League goal for United at a crucial moment

Mainoo lets out a roar after netting his first Premier League goal for United at a crucial moment

Marcus Rashford had earlier scored on his first game since missing training last week following a reported '12 hour tequila bender' in Belfast

Marcus Rashford had earlier scored on his first game since missing training last week following a reported '12 hour tequila bender' in Belfast

Marcus Rashford had earlier scored on his first game since missing training last week following a reported ’12 hour tequila bender’ in Belfast

But Pedro Neto whipped a shot inside Andre Onana’s near post in the 95th minute to send Molineux into ecstasy, and United had it all to do again – just as they did in South Wales on Sunday.

Cue Mainoo. When the ball fell to him on the edge of the box two minutes later, he showed outstanding composure and no little skill to skip past two players and curl the winner beyond Jose Sa.

MATCH FACTS

Wolves (3-4-2-1): Sa; Kilman, Dawson, Toti (Fraser 83); Semedo, Lemina, Doyle (Gomes 83), Doherty (Ait-Nouri 54); Neto, Cunha; Bellegarde (Sarabia 64)

Goals: Sarabia, Kilman, Neto

Booked: Dawson, Cunha

Manager: Gary O’Neil

Man United (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Varane, Martinez (Maguire 86), Shaw; Casemiro (McTominay 73), Mainoo; Garnacho (Evans 90), Fernandes, Rashford (Antony 73); Hojlund (Forson 86)

Goals: Rashford, Hojlund, McTominay, Mainoo

Booked: Casemiro, Martinez, Onana, Garnacho, Shaw

Manager: Erik ten Hag 

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The United bench emptied. This was a massive win for them and not just because the gap to the top-four is only eight points now.

They seem to be gathering momentum at a time when Ten Hag desperately needs it. If this wasn’t his strongest team, then it was pretty close to it now Lisandro Martinez, Casemiro and Luke Shaw are back in action.

The old frailties still linger, though, and United cannot keep on giving up leads like this if they are going to salvage anything from this strangest of seasons.

They have spluttered along ever since a fortuitous win in the opening game against Wolves at Old Trafford in August when Andre Onana got away with conceding a late penalty for his wild challenge on Sasa Kalajdzic. Gary O’Neil’s side must be sick of the sight of United after this.

And what of Rashford? From the moment he stepped off the team bus and onto the pitch here, he was the centre of attention. This time last week he was already swimming in Patron tequila in a Belfast bar. Now it was time to move on.

Those wags at Wolves weren’t going to let him off the hook that easily, though.

As Rashford warmed up with his teammates last night, the choice of match-day tunes began with a cover version of Tequila by Terrorvision followed by the song of the same name by The Champs.

Rashford celebrates putting Man United in front inside the first five minutes

Rashford celebrates putting Man United in front inside the first five minutes

Rashford celebrates putting Man United in front inside the first five minutes

Rashford was a constant threat and United looked to be cruising to victory when Rasmus Hojlund (left) doubled their lead in the first half

Rashford was a constant threat and United looked to be cruising to victory when Rasmus Hojlund (left) doubled their lead in the first half

Rashford was a constant threat and United looked to be cruising to victory when Rasmus Hojlund (left) doubled their lead in the first half

But Pablo Sarabia gave Wolves hope when he slotted home a second-half penalty

But Pablo Sarabia gave Wolves hope when he slotted home a second-half penalty

But Pablo Sarabia gave Wolves hope when he slotted home a second-half penalty

At least Ten Hag had spared him a demotion to the substitutes’ bench that has been his naughty step before here in the West Midlands.

The last time United were in town, on New Year’s Eve 2022, Rashford was dropped for oversleeping before a team meeting, and came on to score the winner. Wolves should probably have known what was coming last night.

It took United’s No.10 less than five minutes to alter the narrative after Bruno Fernandes dummied Diogo Dalot’s low cross. Rasmus Hojlund span his marker and thought about shooting before laying the ball back for Rashford.

He knew exactly what to do, curling the ball coolly beyond Jose Sa from 15 yards. After that 12-hour tequila bender, these are the kind of shots Ten Hag would much rather see Rashford taking.

Scott McTominay restored United's two-goal cushion, but there was more drama to come

Scott McTominay restored United's two-goal cushion, but there was more drama to come

Scott McTominay restored United’s two-goal cushion, but there was more drama to come

Max Kilman made it 3-2 as he fired home after Craig Dawson kept the ball alive from a set-piece

Max Kilman made it 3-2 as he fired home after Craig Dawson kept the ball alive from a set-piece

Max Kilman made it 3-2 as he fired home after Craig Dawson kept the ball alive from a set-piece

Pedro Neto then brought Wolves level as his deflected effort wrong-footed Andre Onana

Pedro Neto then brought Wolves level as his deflected effort wrong-footed Andre Onana

Pedro Neto then brought Wolves level as his deflected effort wrong-footed Andre Onana

Hojlund’s part in the goal should not be ignored either. Their partnership has taken a long time to click, but this was the fifth goal they have shared in the last four league games and a sixth wasn’t far behind.

Rashford fed Shaw on the overlap and the defender’s low cross took a touch off Maximilian Kilman and Sa before Hojlund bundled it over the line.

This time it was Rashford’s contribution that deserved recognition. ‘Rashford’s on the p***!’ sang the jubilant United fans.

United should have been out of sight by half-time as Hojlund had Casemiro had goals ruled out for offside.

But Wolves came back and Martinez cleared Kilman’s header off the line before Onana kept out Craig Dawson’s effort with his face.

Mainoo stepped up at the death to curl home a brilliant finish from the edge of the box

Mainoo stepped up at the death to curl home a brilliant finish from the edge of the box

Mainoo stepped up at the death to curl home a brilliant finish from the edge of the box

It was a huge result for Erik ten Hag and his side as they move up to seventh in the table

It was a huge result for Erik ten Hag and his side as they move up to seventh in the table

It was a huge result for Erik ten Hag and his side as they move up to seventh in the table

Their opportunity came in the 71st minute after Neto went down rather theatrically claiming he had been caught by Casemiro’s trailing leg. The Brazilian insisted there was no contact but referee Jared Gillett pointed to the spot and VAR backed him up. Substitute Pablo Sarabia beat Onana with a penalty down the middle.

Ten Hag sent on Scott McTominay for Casemiro and Antony for Rashford. Not for the first time season, McTominay got his manager out of a hole, scoring with a header from Fernandes’ corner within two minutes.

It was a vital one too because Kilman converted from close-range in the 85th minute and then Neto levelled.

The stage was set for Mainoo. On a night of redemption for Rashford, the United fans have a new homegrown hero.

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