Sheepish United squeak into Cup final on penalties
Manchester United set up another FA Cup final against fierce rivals Manchester City in a way few could have imagined.
In a semifinal yesterday that will live long in the memory, United blew a three-goal lead against second-tier Coventry, were saved by the narrowest of offside calls by the VAR in stoppage time of extra time to keep the score at 3-3, then came from behind in a penalty shootout to advance to the May 26 title match back at Wembley.
United’s celebrations after Rasmus Hojlund converted the clinching spot kick for a 4-2 win in the shootout were as much of relief as joy. United’s players looked sheepish — almost embarrassed — as they left the field compared with their Coventry counterparts, who received the adulation of their proud, flag-waving, sky blue-clad fans.
Advancing to the final in this manner will do nothing to quell the growing uncertainty around the position of United manager Erik ten Hag, whose job might not be saved even by beating City. United, the grandest club in England, are languishing in seventh in the Premier League and the team’s late collapse against Coventry followed a trend of similar performances in recent weeks that will alarm new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who was in the crowd at Wembley after having run the London Marathon.
“The standard of the club is much higher than what we have been doing,” said United captain Bruno Fernandes, who could barely raise a smile despite his team getting to an FA Cup final.
City, who defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the first of the semifinals on Sunday, were 2-1 winners over United in last year’s final on their way to claiming a Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble.
That was the first ever Cup final between the fierce local rivals — and another has arrived 12 months later. Few will expect a different outcome in next month’s match, by which time City will hope to have been crowned Premier League champions again.
“It’s mixed feelings,” Ten Hag said of beating Coventry. “The way we did it isn’t okay.”
United have picked up a nasty habit of blowing leads and it happened again against an inspired Coventry side that is eighth in the Championship and managed by Mark Robins — a former Manchester United striker credited with saving Alex Ferguson from getting fired three years into his storied tenure as United manager with a winning goal of his own in an FA Cup tie.
Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes — with a shot that took a deflection before ricocheting into the net — scored to put United 3-0 up by the 58th minute.
Coventry, bidding to become the first non-Premier League club since Cardiff in 2008 to reach the final, fought back in remarkable fashion with goals from Ellis Sims in the 71st minute, Callum O’Hare in the 79th and then Haji Wright with an equalising penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Coventry were arguably the stronger of the teams in extra time, with Sims hitting the crossbar and Victor Torp having a goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time ruled out because of a close offside call against Wright in the build-up.
“Had he cut his toe nail, it wouldn’t have gone to penalties,” Robins said.
United midfielder Casemiro, who played out of position at centre back in the match, missed the first penalty of the shootout but United recovered, with Coventry failing twice from the spot.
Liverpool stayed competitive in the Premier League title race with a 3-1 win at Fulham that was illuminated by a stunning free kick by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota also scored for Liverpool, who moved level on points with leaders Arsenal but have an inferior goal difference. They are one point ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
In other Premier League games, there were significant wins for Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. Villa rallied to beat Bournemouth 3-1 and strengthen their bid for Champions League qualification. Unai Emery’s team stayed fourth but moved six points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham, who have two games in hand.
Palace scored four goals in the first 31 minutes on the way to a 5-2 win over West Ham.