Man U survive Coventry comeback to make cup final
LONDON: Manchester United survived one of the most astonishing FA Cup semifinal comebacks in history to beat secondtier Coventry City 42 on penalties after a chaotic clash ended 33 following extra time at Wembley Stadium yesterday.
United were cruising to a record 22nd FA Cup final and a repeat clash with Manchester City thanks to goals by Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes with Coventry barely laying a glove on their opponents for 70 minutes.
But goals by Ellis Simms and Callum O'Hare gave Coventry hope and, with United rocking, Haji Wright stroked home a stoppagetime penalty after an Aaron WanBissaka hand ball.
Both sides hit the woodwork in a nervy extra 30 minutes, Fernandes with a curler for United and Simms for Coventry.
Coventry's 36,000 fans were then sent into delirium when substitute Victor Torp poked home with almost the last kick of the game for what would have been a deserved winner, only for Wright to have been adjudged fractionally offside by VAR when he played the ball across the face of goal.
Casemiro's weak opening spot kick for United was saved by Bradley Collins but Onana saved O'Hare's kick and Ben Sheaf fired his effort over the crossbar to leave Rasmus Hojlund with the job of sending United through and he coolly sent his effort past Collins.
United will now face neighbours City in the showpiece final on May 25, the first time the same two clubs have contested the FA Cup final in consecutive years since 1885 when Blackburn Rovers beat Queens Park Glasgow both times.
Three days after bowing out of the Europa League and one week after a damaging home Premier League defeat by Palace, Liverpool got back on track with a 31 win over Fulham yesterday.
Trent AlexanderArnold's opener was cancelled out by Timothy Castagne before Ryan Gravenberch's first league goal for the Reds and Diogo Jota's effort lifted them one point above Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
Everton took a huge step towards Premier League safety as longrange efforts from Idrissa Gueye and Dwight McNeil in either half secured a 20 home win against Forest.
The Toffees climbed five points clear of the bottom three and have a game in hand on most strugglers, while Forest stay one point above the drop zone.
Aston Villa maintained their challenge for a Champions League place by coming from behind to beat Bournemouth 31 at Villa Park.
Dominic Solanke converted his 18th league goal of the season from the penalty spot but Villa hit back through Morgan Rogers on the stroke of halftime. Further goals from Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey took them six points above fifthplaced Tottenham, who have two games in hand.
West Ham, knocked out of the Europa League by Bayer Leverkusen on Friday, were hammered 52 at London rivals Crystal Palace.
Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Emerson Palmieri's own goal and JeanPhilippe Mateta put Palace in total control before Michail Antonio reduced the deficit before halftime.
Palace struck again through Mateta's second and Tyrick Mitchell's late own goal was scant consolation.