A few athletes were exhausted and collapsed onto the ground. Some had trouble standing up straight. No, this wasn’t your typical Thursday night spent with Marcus Rashford; Manchester United and Wolves had just finished an incredible match.

These two sides had exhausted themselves by the end of nine wild minutes of extra time, and by the end of ninety minutes of play. Fatigue had taken hold.

By then, Rashford was off the stage. Here at Molineux, something truly exceptional was required to dethrone him from the headlines. Thankfully, in the 97th minute, youthful Kobbie Mainoo delivered the game-winning goal—his second of the week—that sealed a seven-goal thriller.

Mainoo is a diamond who came from United’s renowned academy, just like Rashford. He is an adolescent with a disposition and ability above his years. In the chaos of the last few minutes, United needed him to maintain composure, and he delivered.

For the second time in the last five days, Erik ten Hag’s team had just let up a two-goal lead. Although Wolves are superior to Newport County, they shouldn’t have been let to reenter the game.

But in the 95th minute, Pedro Neto curled a shot inside Andre Onana’s near post, sending Molineux into a frenzy. From then on, United had to do it all over again, exactly like they did in South Wales on Sunday.

Mainoo, please. Two minutes later, he was on the edge of the box with the ball and shown incredible calm and technique to skip past two players and curl the winner past Jose Sa.

United’s bench fell empty. Not only did they close the distance to the top four to just eight points, but they also won big.

They appear to be gaining traction just when Ten Hag most needs it. If this wasn’t his best squad, it was darn near to it with Luke Shaw, Casemiro, and Lisandro Martinez back in the fold.

But the old weaknesses are still there, and if United is to make any sense out of this most peculiar of seasons, they cannot afford to keep blowing leads like this.

Since Andre Onana’s fortunate victory over Wolves at Old Trafford in August, when he avoided receiving a late penalty for his reckless challenge on Sasa Kalajdzic, they have faltered. After this, Gary O’Neil’s side must be tired of seeing United.

What about Rashford, then? He was the center of attention from the time he got off the team bus and onto this ground. He was already knee-deep in Patron tequila in a Belfast bar at this time last week. It was time to let go now.

But he wasn’t going to get off the hook too easily for those wags at Wolves.

Last night, as Rashford and his teammates warmed up, Terrorvision’s cover of Tequila and The Champs’ song of the same name were chosen as the matchday music.

Ten Hag had at least saved him from being demoted to the bench, which would have been his punishment for misbehaving earlier in the West Midlands.

Rashford was benched for oversleeping prior to a team meeting the last time United visited the city on New Year’s Eve in 2022, but he later scored the game-winning goal. Last night, Wolves should have known better than to come.

In less than five minutes, United’s No. 10 changed the course of events when Bruno Fernandes mishandled Diogo Dalot’s low cross. Before passing the ball back to Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund stepped outside of his marker and considered firing.

He curled the ball coolly past Jose Sa from a distance of fifteen yards, clearly knowing what to do. Ten Hag would much rather see Rashford take these kinds of shots following that 12-hour tequila bender.

Nor is Hojlund’s contribution to the objective to be disregarded. Though it has taken them a while to gel as a team, this was their fifth goal together in the last four league games, and the sixth was not far behind.

When Shaw was fed by Rashford on the overlap, Hojlund was able to bundle the low cross across the line after it was touched by Maximilian Kilman and Sa.

By halftime, United ought to have been well ahead after goals from Hojlund and Casemiro were disallowed for offside.

However, Wolves responded, and Martinez stopped Kilman’s header on the line before Onana used his face to block Craig Dawson’s shot.

When Neto went down somewhat theatrically in the 71st minute, saying he had been caught by Casemiro’s trailing leg, they had their chance. The Brazilian argued there was no touch, but VAR supported referee Jared Gillett’s decision to signal to the spot. Pablo Sarabia, the substitute, defeated Onana with a penalty kick in the middle.

Ten Hag substituted Antony for Rashford and Scott McTominay for Casemiro. Not for the first time this season, McTominay scored two minutes in from Fernandes’ corner to rescue his manager.

It was also crucial because, in the 85th minute, Kilman equalized from close range before Neto added a late goal.

Mainoo’s stage was ready. Rashford is having a night of atonement, and United supporters have a new local hero.