In what could have been a historic comeback, Coventry City nearly overturned a three-goal deficit in the FA Cup semifinals. However, their spirited rally ended in heartbreak as Manchester United clinched a spot in the final with a 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout. After leveling the score at 3-3 and pushing the match into extra time, Coventry fell short in the decisive shootout. Coventry striker Ellis Simms expressed deep disappointment, stating, “It hurts a lot, especially coming back from 3-0 down and having the potential to win in extra time. Losing on penalties is gutting… We were unlucky, but today was not our day to win.
United’s Close Call in FA Cup Semifinal
Rasmus Hojlund scored the crucial penalty to prevent Manchester United from a further humiliating defeat after both Callum O’Hare and Ben Sheaf missed their shots for Coventry.
“It was an unbelievable and bizarre game,” remarked Ten Hag. “We maintained complete control for most of the match, only to lose it towards the end.”
For Coventry, the outcome was yet another painful loss at Wembley, echoing last year’s Championship playoff final where they lost to Luton on penalties, missing a chance at Premier League promotion.
This narrow victory for United now leads to a consecutive Manchester derby in the final, where they will face the defending champions, Manchester City, who defeated Chelsea on Saturday.
Despite United’s initial strong performance, where Bruno Fernandes’ deflected shot increased their lead to 3-0 in the 58th minute against a Championship team that had beaten the odds to reach the semifinals, Coventry demonstrated their resilience. Known for their comebacks, they had previously scored twice in injury time to overcome Wolverhampton in the quarterfinals, and their dramatic fightback this time sparked wild celebrations among their fans at Wembley.
United’s Narrow Escape in FA Cup Semi-Final
Simms sparked a comeback for Coventry by netting a goal in the 71st minute, assisted by Fabio Tavares, followed by O’Hare’s deflected goal in the 79th minute. Haji Wright then leveled the score during injury time with a penalty after a handball by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Initially, Manchester United seemed poised for a smooth win, with Scott McTominay scoring early, followed by Harry Maguire’s header from a corner. Bruno Fernandes then extended the lead with a deflected shot. However, Manchester United’s ability to maintain a lead was again put to question.
Following a similar late-game breakdown against Chelsea earlier this month, United failed to close the game, nearly conceding the match to Coventry in extra time. Simms struck the crossbar, and Victor Torp almost clinched victory in the 120th minute, but his goal was disallowed for offside by VAR, leading to a penalty shootout.
Coventry manager Mark Robins expressed mixed feelings, proud yet disappointed by the narrow loss. In the shootout, Casemiro and O’Hare both missed their penalties, and Sheaf’s attempt went over the crossbar, capping a dramatic finish.
United’s Narrow Escape: A Glimmer of Hope in a Tough Season
The victory offers Manchester United a chance to redeem an otherwise disappointing season. With only a slim possibility of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, clinching the FA Cup trophy, particularly at the expense of rival Manchester City, might be the only achievement that persuades new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe to retain Ten Hag as manager.
Despite his participation in the London Marathon earlier that day, the 71-year-old Ratcliffe was present in the stands. Observing the final hour of United’s lackluster performance might have felt as draining as the marathon’s concluding stretch.
The team’s reaction to Rasmus Hojlund’s winning penalty was subdued; only Christian Eriksen enthusiastically celebrated with Hojlund, his fellow Dane. Most players stayed near the halfway line, awkwardly exchanging handshakes with the Coventry players, fully aware of how narrowly they avoided a humiliating defeat.
However, Ten Hag encouraged a positive outlook, emphasizing the achievement of reaching consecutive FA Cup finals, asserting, “It’s not an embarrassment. It’s an achievement.”
