By Ohuakanwa Chibuzo
In a dramatic FA Cup showdown on Sunday, Manchester United clawed back from the brink of defeat to overcome Coventry on penalties, securing a spot in the final for the second consecutive year against Manchester City.
Under the stewardship of Erik ten Hag, United clinched victory in the shootout at Wembley with a 4-2 triumph, highlighted by Rasmus Hojlund’s decisive spot kick after the teams remained deadlocked at 3-3 following extra time.
The match epitomized the rollercoaster season for Ten Hag’s squad, who have struggled to find consistency in the Premier League.
Initially, Manchester United seemed poised for an easy win as they raced to a commanding 3-0 lead against their Championship opponents under the sunlit skies of London, courtesy of goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes.
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However, recent tendencies of relinquishing leads haunted them once again.
Coventry mounted a stunning resurgence in the second half, with strikes from Ellis Simms and Callum O’Hare reigniting hope for the 1987 FA Cup victors. Haji Wright then sealed the improbable comeback with a penalty deep into stoppage time, leveling the score amidst chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” directed at Ten Hag from Coventry fans.
Despite a tense period of extra time featuring near misses from both sides, United ultimately prevailed in the shootout.
Reflecting on the tumultuous match, Ten Hag acknowledged the team’s resilience, stating, “It was an incredible game, a strange game too. We had total control for so long and then gave it away in the last part of the game. We did show resilience to win the penalty shootout.”
While Coventry manager Mark Robins experienced disappointment, he praised his team’s valiant effort, remarking, “We’ve just said to them they’ve put themselves right up there in the history of the football club. People will talk about this game for a long time.”
With Manchester City securing their spot in the final by defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the other semi-final, anticipation builds for a thrilling rematch between the two Manchester giants, marking only the second instance in FA Cup history that the same two teams have contested successive finals, a feat last achieved in 1885.
