Man United escapes with shootout win after blowing 3-goal lead against Coventry in FA Cup semifinal
LONDON (AP) — For Coventry, it was almost a historic return. Rather, it culminated in yet another heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat for the lower division team at Wembley, as Manchester United stammered into yet another FA Cup final.
On Sunday, April 21, 2024, at Wembley stadium in London, Coventry City and Manchester United played a soccer match in the English FA Cup semifinal. Coventry City players celebrated after scoring. (AP Image by Alastair Grant)
LONDON (AP) — For Coventry, it was almost a historic return. Rather, it culminated in yet another heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat for the lower division team at Wembley, as Manchester United stammered into yet another FA Cup final.
Coventry staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in FA Cup history on Sunday, forcing extra time following a 3-3 draw with United. However, Coventry faltered late in the game, allowing Erik ten Hag’s squad to win 4-2 in the shootout.
After Callum O’Hare and Ben Sheaf missed their penalty strokes for Coventry, Rasmus Hojlund struck the game-winning penalty kick to spare United from yet another humiliating defeat.
After Callum O’Hare and Ben Sheaf missed their penalty strokes for Coventry, Rasmus Hojlund struck the game-winning penalty kick to spare United from yet another humiliating defeat.
Ten Hag remarked, “It was a strange game as well as an amazing game.” “In the last moments of the game, we gave up all control that we had for so long. To win the penalty shootout, we did demonstrate resiliency.
Coventry, who also lost on penalties to Luton in the Championship playoff final of the previous season and were denied promotion to the Premier League, experienced yet another devastating finale at Wembley.
After United’s tight escape, the defending champion Manchester City—who defeated Chelsea on Saturday—will face United in the championship game for the second time in a row.
However, it wasn’t supposed to be this close.
Following Bruno Fernades’ deflected goal that gave United a 3-0 lead against a
Nevertheless, Coventry is no stranger to comebacks; in the quarterfinals, they defeated Wolverhampton twice in injury time, and this time they pulled off an even bigger one that sparked wild celebrations in the sky-blue half of Wembley.
Ellis Simms, the striker, gave the Championship team a glimmer of hope in the 71st minute when he swept home a cross from Fabio Tavares. O’Hare scored the second goal in the 79th minute after a fortunate deflection, and Haji Wright equalized from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of injury time following an Aaron Wan-Bissaka handball.
In the twenty-third, Scott McTominay scored with ease from close range into an empty net to give United the lead. Next, from a corner, Harry Maguire headed in the second goal to
After Simms struck the crossbar with a blistering shot in the 120th minute, Victor Torp believed he had scored the winner, igniting even more ferocious celebrations among the Coventry players and supporters. However, VAR disqualified the goal for offside, forcing a penalty shootout.
After Casemiro shot straight at goalie Bradley Collins, United missed their first penalty. O’Hare’s spot kick was saved by Andre Onana, and Sheaf’s attempt went well over the crossbar.
It spared Ten Hag from yet another humiliation and provides United with an opportunity to turn around a season marred by disappointment. United’s only realistic hope of making it into the Champions League for the upcoming season is to win the FA Cup at rival City’s cost.
Only Christian Eriksen ran over to join his fellow Dane in celebrating after Hojlund’s game-winning penalty kick. The rest of United’s players barely even let out a cheer. Knowing they were on the verge of one of the most embarrassing losses for the team, the majority of the players stayed near the midway line, shaking hands with the Coventry players in a shy and almost bashful manner.
Fernandes remarked, “We put ourselves in a difficult position and should have killed it earlier but we didn’t.” “We need to improve so much,”
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