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Manchester United reached the FA Cup final after beating Coventry City on penalties in a thrilling semi-final at Wembley Stadium.
Erik ten Hag’s side took a 3-0 lead in the last-four match just before the hour with goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes, with Coventry apparently unable to respond.
However, the Championship club registered through Ellis Simms and Callum O’Hare in the 71st and 79th minutes, respectively, to set up a dramatic finish at Wembley; Man United were wobbling, and Haji Wright amazingly struck a 95th-minute penalty to send it to extra time in the capital.
Victor Torp thought he had won it for Coventry in the final moments of extra time, but his shot was disallowed for offside in the build-up, forcing penalties to conclude the thrilling match.
Man United won 4-2 in the shootout to proceed to the final, with Diogo Dalot, Christian Eriksen, Fernandes, and Rasmus Hojlund scoring after Casemiro missed his attempt.
Manchester United set up an all-Manchester final with Manchester City
Willy Kambwala was ruled out for Manchester United ahead of the game, thus Casemiro started alongside Maguire at centre-back, while Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, and Raphael Varane were also injured.
The Red Devils had a chance in the sixth minute when Fernandes crossed to Alejandro Garnacho inside the Coventry box, but the Argentine could not make contact.
Wright’s quickness almost propelled him clear for Coventry in the 12th minute, passing Casemiro, but Dalot was fortunately on the cover from Man United’s perspective.
Marcus Rashford then had a fantastic opportunity in the 18th minute after a beautiful feed from Casemiro, but he could only turn wide of the post.
Man United did break the deadlock in the 23rd minute, with McTominay scoring from close range after Dalot’s low cross, triggering wild celebrations in the stadium’s red end.
Manchester United were cruising until late capitulation
After the initial goal, the match pattern remained consistent, with Man United controlling possession and Coventry posing a threat on the counter-attack due to their quickness.
The Championship team had a great chance to tie the score in the 39th minute when Ben Sheaf delivered a dangerous cross to Simms, but Dalot just managed to beat the striker to the ball with some good defense.
Rashford nearly doubled Manchester United’s advantage with a powerful drive in the 43rd minute, but Coventry goalkeeper Brad Collins made an outstanding save.
However, from Fernandes’ ensuing corner, Maguire headed into the back of the net to make it 2-0 to the Red Devils, leaving Coventry with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Fernandes shot just wide of the far post early in the second half, before Coventry had a solid spell, but Manchester United continued to defend well, with Casemiro impressing in the middle of the defence.
The Red Devils increased their lead to 3-0 in the 58th minute, with Fernandes showing wonderful footwork inside the penalty area before scoring after the Championship club’s poor defending.
Maguire shot just over the crossbar in the 63rd minute, before O’Hare headed over from the other end, giving Coventry a rare chance to register in the English city.
The Red Devils eventually find a route to the final
The Championship team scored in the 71st minute, with Simms expertly putting Fabio Tavares’ low cross into the bottom corner from within the box for his 19th goal of the season and sixth in the FA Cup.
O’Hare’s attempt in the 79th minute struck Wan-Bissaka and fell in the corner before deflecting into the net.
In the 84th minute, Onana produced a remarkable save to keep away Torp’s powerful volley, before Coventry were awarded a penalties in stoppage time for a Wan-Bissaka handball, and Wright stepped up to equalize the score at 3-3 and force extra time at Wembley Stadium after an astonishing turn of events.
Fernandes had the finest chance of the first half of extra time, smashing one against the crossbar, but Omari Forson also came close for Manchester United, having a low shot turned over by the Coventry goalkeeper.
Maguire’s effort was turned wide early in the second half of extra time, before Wright missed the target down the other end after a rapid counter-attack; Simms then hit one off the underside of the crossbar, as Coventry came so close to a fourth goal in the English capital.
Coventry believed they had won it through Torp in the closing moments. Nevertheless, a VAR call for Wright’s offside during the build-up overturned that.
Manchester United won the shootout 4-2, with Hojlund scoring after O’Hare and Sheaf missed for the Championship side.
