Manchester United overcame Coventry City in a dramatic FA Cup semi-final match at Wembley, securing victory through a penalty shootout that ended 4-2 in their favor. Rasmus Hojlund’s crucial spot kick sealed the win after the teams were deadlocked at 3-3 following extra time.
The match highlighted the turbulent season experienced by Erik ten Hag’s squad, struggling in the Premier League and enduring a forgettable Champions League campaign. Despite initially establishing a comfortable 3-0 lead against Coventry, United’s tendency to squander advantages resurfaced.
Coventry’s spirited fightback, featuring goals from Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare, and Haji Wright’s penalty equalizer in stoppage time, stunned United and their supporters. The Coventry faithful, donning blue, mocked Ten Hag with chants of his impending dismissal, adding to the intense atmosphere at Wembley.
Mark Robins, Coventry’s manager, played a significant role in United’s FA Cup triumph in 1990, a victory that ushered in a period of success under Alex Ferguson. Despite their underdog status against United, Coventry’s aspirations for a Championship play-off spot have dwindled in recent matches, setting the stage for a compelling clash at Wembley.
United, who have won the competition 12 times, quickly established themselves and took the lead in the 23rd minute after a well-executed play on the right side. Alejandro Garnacho passed the ball to Diogo Dalot, who made an overlapping run and delivered a cross that slipped through the hands of Bradley Collins.
McTominay was there to tap it in from close range. In the latter stages of the first half, Marcus Rashford forced Collins to make a great save, but United extended their lead from the resulting corner.
Maguire headed the ball into the net from Fernandes’s cross. Coventry, who managed to score twice in stoppage time to defeat Premier League Wolves in the quarter-finals, struggled to break through United’s organized defense.
They showed some promise in the early stages of the second half, but their momentum was halted when Fernandes’s shot deflected off Bobby Thomas and found its way past Collins in the 58th minute. O’Hare had a chance to score from an angle, but his header went over the goal. However, Coventry managed to pull a goal back in the 71st minute when Ellis Simms connected with a cross from Fabio Tavares.
They narrowed the gap further in the 79th minute when O’Hare’s shot deflected off Wan-Bissaka’s back and went over Onana. Coventry’s fans were energized as their team launched continuous attacks. Substitute Victor Torp tested Onana with a powerful shot from outside the box, but the United goalkeeper made a sharp save.
Coventry persisted and were awarded a penalty when Wan-Bissaka was deemed to have handled the ball in the penalty area. Wright converted the penalty, sending the match into extra time.
Despite Coventry looking more likely to win during the 10 minutes of stoppage time, they couldn’t find the winning goal. United captain Fernandes hit the crossbar in the fourth minute of extra time, and Simms struck the underside of the crossbar as time expired.
Coventry thought they had secured victory in the dying moments when Torp poked the ball past Onana, but the goal was disallowed.
