Man Utd win dramatic penalty shootout after stirring Coventry comeback to reach FA Cup final

Man Utd win dramatic penalty shootout after stirring Coventry comeback to reach FA Cup final

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Man Utd and Coventry play out FA Cup classic

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 21/04/2024

- 18:24

Updated: 22/04/2024

- 08:20

The Red Devils will now face off against fierce rivals Manchester City next month

Manchester United beat Coventry on penalties after a stirring comeback from the Sky Blues to reach the final of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Casemiro missed the first spot-kick of the shootout, with the Brazil international seeing his effort saved, but Callum O'Hare and Ben Sheaf fluffed their lines from 12 yards to send Erik ten Hag's side through.


It was cruel on Coventry, who had mounted a sensational comeback from 3-0 down to force extra time and penalties.

Mark Robins' side seemed dead and buried when Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire struck to give the Red Devils a 2-0 lead inside the first half.

Man Utd Coventry

Man Utd kept their cool to win a dramatic penalty shootout against Coventry

GETTY

United then extended their advantage in the 58th minute, with Bruno Fernandes striking to send the red half of Wembley wild.

Yet Coventry didn't read the script and produced one of the greatest comebacks in FA Cup history to turn the match around, even if it ultimately counted for nothing.

Ellis Simms got the comeback started, with the 23-year-old rifling home from inside the box.

O'Hare's deflected strike got Coventry firmly back in the game, putting pressure on United in the process.

And there was drama at the end of normal time when a penalty was awarded following a handball from Aaron Wan-Bissaka inside the box.

Haji Wright then duly converted his spot-kick, following up on his heroics from the quarter-final win over Wolves in the process.

As extra-time started, United suffered yet another injury blow.

They have been forced to cope without many first-team stars this season and Marcus Rashford was forced to hobble out of the clash.

Amad Diallo then came on and immediately set up Fernandes.

Yet the Portugal international sent a powerful effort crashing off the bar and Coventry, much to their relief, were let off the hook.

Coventry also struck the woodwork, with Simms going agonisingly close to winning the match.

And the drama wasn't done there, with the Sky Blues thinking they'd won the match and reached the final when Victor Torp put the ball past Andre Onana.

Fans inside Wembley, and those sitting and watching at home, held their breath.

But Coventry were denied, with VAR adjudging that Torp was narrowly offside. Onana led the celebrations, with United jubilant.

With nothing able to separate the two teams, the showdown went to penalties.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

Man Utd Coventry

Man Utd duo Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana celebrate after their FA Cup win over Coventry

GETTY

Casemiro, who had surprisingly been deployed at centre-back for the clash, stepped up first.

However, the former Real Madrid star saw his effort easily saved by Bradley Collins - giving Coventry an advantage.

With Diogo Dalot and Christian Eriksen then converting, Onana made the biggest save of his United career so far.

The Cameroon international got down low to superbly deny O'Hare, boosting his side's chances of going through to the final as a result.

Fernandes kept his cool from 12 yards, with the momentum of the match starting to change.

Man Utd Andre Onana Coventry

Man Utd star Andre Onana made the biggest save of his Old Trafford career as his side beat Coventry to reach the FA Cup final

GETTY

And Sheaf blazed his effort over the bar before Rasmus Hojlund converted his own penalty to send United through.

The Red Devils were fortunate. Very fortunate.

But they will now do battle with Manchester City next month looking for revenge, having lost to Pep Guardiola's side in the final of the same competition last season.

You may like