Manchester United defeated Coventry 4-3 on penalties in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, and will battle their city rivals for the club’s oldest trophy in a month’s time. The Red Devils dominated the match until the 71st minute, which was evidenced by the three-goal lead, in which Bruno Fernandes contributed with a goal and an assist. But then the key man of the offensive outsider Ellis Simms entered the statistics in the same way and converted a penalty kick by Haji Wright in the setup of the second half. However, it was the penalties that ultimately proved fatal for the Championship’s eighth overall team, as captain Ben Sheaf kicked the goal in a punishing manner in the final shootout.
The biggest event of the weekend program at Wembley was the participation of the team from the second league. The Sky Blues’ chances of making the play-offs for promotion to the Premier League were no longer high, so they might focus on their first cup semi-final since 1987. In it, they faced a famous Manchester side who, although struggling in the league, also but a smooth progress was expected from him.
The Red Devils had a significant advantage from the beginning of the duel. One of the chances was burned by Marcus Rashford following a fantastic pass from Casemiro, whose shot was tipped into the bottom corner by Bradley Collins. In the 23rd minute, however, the Chelsea protege already conceded. Diogo Dalot found Scott McTominay alone in the small box with a sharp pass, who comfortably scored into an open net. Coventry were under constant pressure but worked their way into a good opportunity in the 40th minute. Josh Eccles, like Dalot, tried to find a team-mate in the penalty area, but the well-built striker Simms was covered by the United defence. Manchester extended their lead before going to the dressing room. Harry Maguire, who scored in the FA Cup for the first time since 2020, headed home Fernandes’ corner.
After the change of sides, the experienced Portuguese might also be among the scorers, but he narrowly missed with a quality shot. However, Fernandes did not regret the missed chance for long. In the 58th minute, the former Sporting player received a loose ball from Rashford and, with the help of a flowing defender, made waves in the net. However, Coventry forced the Red Devils to play to the very end as Simms latched on to the ball in the 71st minute to beat a flying André Onana at the right post. Moments later, the Cameroonian keeper just watched Callum O’Hare’s flicked ball drop into his goal and drama was set. In the 85th minute, it might even have been equalized, but Onana made a great save once morest Victor Torp’s pumice stone. However, in stoppage time, the Red Devils goalkeeper was sensationally beaten for the third time. Aaron Wan-Bissaka played in the goal with his hand and from the penalty Wright sent the duel to extra time.
In it, Fernandes was able to make a breakthrough shortly following the start, but the crossbar stopped a sharp shot from behind the goal. In the second half, outsider Wright might once once more send the fans into total euphoria, whose finish from the escape just narrowly missed the goal. Moments later, Simms shot but only hit the crossbar. Coventry’s huge celebrations came at the end of extra time when a punishingly unmarked Torp came through. But the video referee called off his goal for a very close offside. The crazy duel culminated in penalty kicks, in which the Manchester players were ultimately happier.
So Coventry’s breathtaking journey ended in the semi-finals, and the Red Devils are on their way to the battle for the world’s oldest club trophy. They will face Manchester City on May 25.
