FROM WEMBLEY – Manchester United threw away a three-goal lead but prevailed on penalties against Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The Red Devils raced into a seemingly comfortable lead but were hit by three late goals to send the match into extra-time, where VAR ruled out an extraordinary Sky Blues winner, before spot-kicks decided the shootout.
United will meet crosstown rivals Manchester City in the final for a second season running, with Erik ten Hag’s men looking to avenge their defeat from last season.
How the game unfolded
United spurned a great chance to go ahead inside five minutes. Andre Onana’s long kick was nodded on by Bruno Fernandes and into the path of Alejandro Garnacho, who slipped while trying to launch a half-volley at goal and the ball trickled wide.
Midway through the first half, United went in front. Diogo Dalot made an overlapping run outside of Garnacho, and the Portuguese full-back was able to drive a low cross into the box for Scott McTominay to tap in at the back post.
Coventry had to wait until the 40th minute for their first major opportunity, with Josh Eccles bundling past Aaron Wan-Bissaka and sending in a low ball through the six-yard box, only for Diogo Dalot to prevent Ellis Simms from scoring at the far post.
Just before the break, Rashford brought a fine save out of Bradley Collins with a driven effort from just inside the Coventry box.
And from the resulting corner, United had their second, with Harry Maguire rising highest to meet Fernandes’ delivery.
On the other side of half-time, Fernandes thought he had found the top corner with a gorgeous curling strike from range, only for the ball to whistle past the post.
Just as it looked as if Coventry were getting a grip on proceedings, they conceded a third on the counter attack. Garnacho wheeled away with the ball upfield and played it inside to Fernandes, who turned it into Marcus Rashford. He cut inside off the left wing and possession was reassumed by the United captain, whose deflected effort squeezed in.
With 20 minutes to go, Coventry’s resurgence had lift-off. Fabio Tavares’ cross found Simms completely unmarked in the box, and he stroked his shot past Onana to give the Sky Blues fans something to cheer.
And the mood around Wembley changed completely when Coventry pulled another back minutes later, with Callum O’Hare’s strike taking a huge deflection off of Wan-Bissaka and wrong-footing Onana.
Coventry went agonisingly close to a leveller when Victor Torp unleashed a…
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