United leave it late to clip the Canaries’ wings
NORWICH CITY 1
Cantwell (75)
MANCHESTER UTD 2 (aet)
Ighalo (51) Maguire (118)
Scott Mctominay got his FA Cup semi-final date to celebrate along with his new deal but he didn’t half have to wait for it.
The Red Devils announced last Tuesday he had agreed to commit until the summer of 2025 with the option for a further year.
There is no way the Scot would have anticipated this tie extending as far as it did.
Even BBC commentator Jermaine Jenas admitted to surprise extra time had to be played, a prospect he hadn’t thought possible before United change keeper Sergio Romero failed to get to a fine long range strike from Todd Cantwell.
Then, even after they were gifted a man advantage for the additional 30 minutes by the red carding of Timm Klose, they made heavy weather of things.
It wasn’t until the 118th minute that substitute Paul Pogba helped tee up Harry Maguire that they finally saw off the spirited Canaries.
Scott Mctominay initially cut an imposing figure. Head held high and chest puffed out, he strode around the midfield exchanging passes with Juan Mata and Bruno Fernandes.
Pick of his play was a delightful flick he produced to play in Odion Igahlo. For a second, the Nigerian looked set to capitalise but his close control let him down and the moment passed.
The visitors’ lack of tempo was surprising and little by little, Norwich started to suspect a shock – along the lines of their famous 1991 win over the Red Devils – could be on the cards.
Then, goals from Robert Fleck, uncle of John, and Dale Gordon, who later joined Rangers, did the job.
Yesterday Teemu Pukki, ex of Celtic, was the man they asked to lead the line. Given the Finn hasn’t scored a goal in open play in 14 games, it was perhaps optimistic to hope he would return from the lockdown bursting with confidence and he looked off the pace. Better was Kenny Mclean, a team-mate of Mctominay in the Scotland national team.
Showing the drive lacking in some of the opposition, he burst from his own half, drove forward thirty yards to give himself a sight of goal.
In normal times, the Carrow Road support would have held their breath.
Here they would have been glad they were not there as the Scot blazed his effort way over the bar.
It was a statement of intent, however, and Norwich went agonisingly close soon after. They pushed forward and when Todd Cantwell’s cutback found Lukas Rupp right in front of goal they looked sure to score.
Happily for Solskjaer and Co. Maguire was alive to the danger and denied the German with a brilliant last-gasp block.
You didn’t have to be a mind reader to guess the message Manchester United players were given at half time – there is a semifinal place at stake here, pick up the pace.
They looked livelier from the off in the second period and quickly grabbed the breakthrough.
Luke Shaw’s cross into the box was knocked up in the air by a combination of Juan Mata and his markers.
While others looked around, Igahlo kept his eye on the ball and steered past Tim Krul for a 1-0 lead.
If there was little Krul could do about the goal, the same could not be said of his opposite number Sergio Romero at the equaliser.
Todd Cantwell’s 30-yard strike was excellent but the Argentinian had to get to it.
Maguire threw his hands in the air in exasperation, a gesture that said it all with the England man left to secure the win himself with his injury-time winner.