Marcus Rashford shows shades of Cristiano Ronaldo with wonder-strike for Manchester United

England striker compared to former Old Trafford favourite after stunning 30-yard free-kick helps side defeat Chelsea in League Cup

Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal. AFP

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford scores his stunning second goal. Reuters

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates after the match. Reuters

Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero of Chelsea makes a save. Getty

Manchester United's Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, left, and his Chelsea counterpart Frank Lampard share a joke. AFP

Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi, left, celebrates after scoring for Chelsea. Reuters

Manchester United's Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero (R) and Manchester United's Argentinian defender Marcos Rojo gesture at the final whistle during the English League Cup fourth round football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on October 30, 2019. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / AFP / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford after the match. AFP

Michy Batshuayi scores for Chelsea. Reuters

Chelsea's Mason Mount. AP

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford scores their first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. AP

Manchester United's Harry Maguire, left, and Michy Batshuayi of Chelsea. Reuters

Chelsea's Marcos Alonso shoots under pressure from Harry Maguire of Manchester United. Getty

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring his second goal. AFP

Chelsea's Michy Batshuayi reacts after missing a chance. Reuters

Chelsea's manager Frank Lampard. AFP

Manchester United's Daniel James, left, battles for possession with Reece James. Reuters

Manchester United's Brandon Williams beats Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea to a header. Reuters

Manchester United's Daniel James, left, goes on the attack. Reuters

Marcus Rashford has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo after his wonder-strike against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup.

The England striker scored with a breathtaking 30-yard free-kick to fire Manchester United into the quarter-finals of the competition.

The technique bore some similarity to the former United frontman Ronaldo as the ball looped over the Chelsea wall and dipped under Willy Caballero's crossbar.

Team-mate Victor Lindelof tweeted that he was "sure I've seen that somewhere before" while manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted: "It was a Cristiano-like goal."

Rashford had earlier given United the lead from the penalty spot, before Chelsea equalised through Michy Batshuayi.

"The boy has got nerves of steel. Takes a penalty, no problem. Steps up and hits the ball like he does and wins us the game, fantastic," Solskjaer said.

"Marcus has that strike in him. I've seen him in training so many times and it's got to be hitting the target soon, you think, because he's had a few efforts. Finally it goes in.

"We've travelled a lot in the last week. We've got a good team spirit and camaraderie. It shows the character of the team.

"We get the games where we want them. We've been leading 1-0 in many games and not kicked on. Today we were excellent, with fast flowing football. That's Manchester United. We're trying to get back to that.

"We know we're not the finished product, we're a work in progress and keep trying to improve."

A 2-1 defeat brought an end to Chelsea's seven-match winning streak, but even manager  Frank Lampard had to admire Rashford's winner.

"It's great technique," said Lampard. "It was a stunning strike from him, at a time when I felt we were really in the ascendancy.

"We've had seven wins on the trot, with some taxing games in the Champions League. Our form in the league has been really good, and it's clear they are our priorities.

"I saw a lot of positive things. I hate losing but it's clear there is a bigger picture."

Defeat meant Chelsea failed to get a measure of revenge on United for their 4-0 defeat on the opening day of the season.

The teams have gone in opposite directions since then, with United struggling for form while Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League and joint top of their Champions League group.

However, United took a 25th-minute lead after Daniel James won the spot-kick, the winger getting across Marcos Alonso in the area before tumbling to the deck.

Rashford may have missed a penalty against Norwich at the weekend, but he showed no sign of nerves as he calmly sent Willy Caballero the wrong way.

They got their equaliser on the hour mark, Batshuayi nodding on Caballero's clearance before turning away from Harry Maguire.

The Belgian frontman outstripped Maguire and Victor Lindelof before firing past Rojo and into the corner of Sergio Romero's net.

But Rashford settled the match in the 73rd minute in spectacular fashion, lifting his shot over the wall and underneath Caballero's crossbar before sliding on his knees in celebration in front of a delirious away end.

In Wednesday's other League Cup clash, goals from Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady saw Aston Villa edge past Wolves.

El Ghazi's close-range shot crept past Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy to put the hosts ahead at Villa Park before Patrick Cutrone tapped in a Taylor Perry's pass to level the scores. But Elmohamady's flick from a Henri Lansbury free-kick gave Villa victory.