Marcus Rashford scored a sensational free-kick to send Manchester United through to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The striker scored the first himself, slotting home from the penalty spot in the first half, before Michy Batshuayi drew the game level for Chelsea with a great solo effort after the break.

Rashford then hit an incredible winner in the closing stages to earn United a place in the last eight of the cup, and a third straight away win in a week for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Player ratings

Chelsea: Caballero (5), James (6), Zouma (6), Guehi (6), Alonso (5), Gilmour (6), Jorginho (6), Kovacic (6), Hudson-Odoi (6), Pulisic (5), Batshauyi (7)

Subs: Mount (6), Pedro (6), Abraham (6)

Manchester United: Romero (6), Wan-Bissaka (7), Lindelof (6), Maguire (5), Rojo (7), Williams (7), McTominay (8), Fred (6), Lingard (6), James (7), Rashford (8)

Subs: Young (6), Pereira (6), Martial (6)

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford

There were question marks over the penalty Dan James won at Norwich on Sunday, but there were no doubts about the one he got for United in the 25th minute to make the breakthrough.

Using his trademark pace, he burst into the area and got on the wrong side of Marcos Alonso, who clumsily brought the winger down. Rashford missed at Carrow Road, but he stepped up again and sent Willy Caballero the wrong way.

Chelsea improved dramatically in the second half and after 61 minutes they were level, thanks to some sloppy defending from Harry Maguire.

His poor attempt at a header allowed Batshuayi in, but the Belgian still had plenty to do as he drove in from just inside the United half before hitting a low shot into the bottom corner past Sergio Romero from 20 yards.

But then came the moment worthy of winning any game. United won a fairly innocuous looking free-kick around 30 yards from goal but Rashford had other ideas. Stepping up to hit a curling, swerving, dipping effort over the wall and into the top corner, leaving Caballero completely helpless.

What the managers said

Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: "We are hitting form. We have had three wins in a row away from home now. It is good for the boys. We have travelled a lot in the last week but when you get the results - the team spirit, the camaraderie - it shows the character of the team.

"We know we are not the finished product. We know we are a work-in-progress but we are just trying to improve. They are learning. They are getting new experiences."

Chelsea's Frank Lampard: "Disappointed because we always want to win. We had to make changes, and we made a lot, but they were pretty much full strength. From an attacking sense, we didn't break the lines and were a little bit slow. But in the second half, we did enough. But then came that incredible thunderbolt."

Man of the match: Marcus Rashford

His stunning free kick was Cristiano Ronaldo-esque and will live long in the memory. He also dispatched his penalty calmly, sending Willy Caballero the wrong way, and his pace and directness on the break made him a threat right up until his substitution in the closing stages. It's now four goals in four games for the striker.

What's next?

Chelsea head to Watford for Saturday Night Football, live from 5.15pm on Sky Sports Premier League, while Manchester United visit Bournemouth earlier the same day for a 12.30pm kick-off.

Click Here For Official Team Sheet

Teams

Chelsea Caballero, James, Guehi, Zouma, Alonso, Gilmour (Mount 70), Jorginho (c), Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi (Abraham 78), Pulisic (Pedro 70)
Subs Not Used Cummings, Azpilicueta, Lamptey, Giroud
Booked Batshuayi, Kovacic
Goals Batshuayi 61

Manchester United Romero, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof (Martial 66), Maguire (c), Rojo, Williams, McTominay, Fred, Lingard (Pereira 67), James, Rashford (Young 80)
Subs Not Used Grant, Jones, Garner, Mata
Booked McTominay, Fred
Goals Rashford 25 (pen), 73

Attendance 38,645

Referee Paul Tierney