Manchester United escaped Wembley Stadium covered in bruises following a thrilling extra-time FA Cup semifinal with second-tier Coventry City on Sunday.
The Red Devils led 3-0 but conceded three goals after the 70th minute and needed a VAR review to deprive Coventry of an extra-time winner before prevailing 4-2 on penalties.
[ MORE: Bruno, Ten Hag react to semifinal ]
Ellis Simms, Callum O’Hare, and USMNT striker Haji Wright scored second-half goals after United built a 2-0 first-half lead through Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire and made it three through Bruno Fernandes in the 58th minute.
Wright sent it to extra time with a stoppage-time penalty and appeared to have set up Victor Torp’s winner near the end of the 120 minutes but VAR found him offside by half of his left foot.
Man United meet Manchester City in a Manchester derby of an FA Cup Final on May 25.
Semi-successful semi-final for shameful Manchester United
Wouldn’t it be a fitting and sad send-off for Erik ten Hag if the dagger through the heart of his Manchester United tenure was a game his team barely won over a lesser side?
There are excuses and talking points for Ten Hag. They led by three. Casemiro had to play center back as Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia were among the backs unavailable to him. Mason Mount and Anthony Martial remain out, too.
But Coventry is the eighth-place team in the Championship and United has spent more money on players than any other team in England. Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund, Casemiro, Marcus Rashford. The list goes on, and it’s more than enough firepower to not need extra time against Coventry.
And forget needing extra time, the Red Devils fell apart in the contest. They were fortunate to reach penalties. As Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS watched from their box at Wembley, it’s improbable that they could leave the building thinking they had the right manager to lead them forward... if even they felt that way prior to the game.
Haji Wright stands tall
He scores goals in big spots, and he did it twice from the spot on Sunday, assisting a would-be winner and just missing on another from a tough angle.
USMNT 26-year-old Haji Wright has the guts to show up on the big stages, which we’ve now seen at the World Cup, in the CONCACAF Nations League, and in the FA Cup.
Gregg Berhalter has a lot of forward options right now, but Wright’s shown the mental strength at every step and feels like he’s earned the “gotta be there” status even if he doesn’t start at center forward.
Wright showed the guts to leave LA Galaxy’s academy to play pro in the NASL with New York Cosmos, then left the continent young for Schalke and refined his craft in Denmark and Turkey before getting his chance to shine at Coventry.
Coventry City vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Coventry City vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Coventry City vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Man United host Sheffield United at 2:45pm ET Wednesday before Burnley come to Old Trafford at 10am Saturday.
Coventry, nine points outside the playoffs with two matches-in-hand, host Hull City on Wednesday, then go to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
How to watch Coventry City vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10:30am ET Sunday (April 21)
Online: ESPN+
Coventry City vs Manchester United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Coventry City vs Manchester United final score: 3-3 (2-4 pens)
Goalscorers: McTominay (23'), Maguire (45+1'), Fernandes (58'), Simms (71'), O’Hare (79'), Wright (pen 90+5')
Penalties
Bradley Collins in goal for Coventry, Andre Onana for Man Utd.
Man United shoot first. Casemiro. SAVED by Collins.
Haji Wright. GOAL. 1-0 Coventry.
Diogo Dalot. GOAL. 1-1.
Victor Torp. GOAL. 2-1 Coventry.
Christian Eriksen. GOAL. 2-2.
Callum O’Hare. SAVED by Onana.
Bruno Fernandes. GOAL. 3-2 Man Utd.
Ben Sheaf. MISSED. Over the goal.
Rasmus Hojlund. GOAL. Man United win.
Last-minute winner overturned by VAR — To penalties!
Haji Wright beat the United back line and cut back for Victor Torp to finish right on the edge of 120 minutes but...
Wright’s offside in the build-up by a toe. Harsh. To penalties!
United almost absent
Yes there are injuries but what does it say for this club that they are barely there at Wembley Stadium in a semifinal against a second-tier side.
The Coventry City story is excellent and we’re admittedly all over it and lapping it up, but wow.
Halftime of extra time
Not a lot of danger in that first period aside from the two noted moments below.
United youngsters Omari Forson and Amad Diallo have come on since the 90th minute, while Antony and Christian Eriksen are the other two Red Devils out there who did not start the game.
Extra time!
Bruno Fernandes rattles the bar, then Coventry go the other way.
Haji Wright cooks Casemiro, now in minute 97 of center back play, but runs out of room at the end line.
COVENTRY CITY PENALTY!! Coventry 3-3 Man Utd (90+5' minute)
We’re in stoppage time and Aaron Wan-Bissaka has blocked a cross with his arm from close range.
USMNT striker Haji Wright with a perfect penalty! Wow.
WHAT. A. COMEBACK 🤯😳@Coventry_City have come from three goals down to level against @ManUtd 😱#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/CTPT8QnOAx
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 21, 2024
Couldn’t be?! — Coventry 2-3 Man Utd (79th minute)
O’Hare tears into a speculative shot from 25 yards and it takes a wicked turn off the back of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Andre Onana cannot adjust, and we’ve got a one-goal game and time to play.
THEY'VE GOT ANOTHER 🤯@Coventry_City are back in it!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/9kHEph4IJO
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 21, 2024
Coventry get one back — Coventry 1-3 Man Utd (71st minute)
Nice bit of technique from Ellis Simms as he’s left to his devices in the middle of the box.
Fabio Tavares sweeps in a cross. Harry Maguire is well in front of Simms and Kobbie Mainoo can’t reach the red-hot striker, who belts a side volley home.
Great moment for the visitors and their support.
What a moment for @Coventry_City 🤩
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 21, 2024
Ellis Simms bags at Wembley!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/rPkbxkOC33
Bruno Fernandes goal — Coventry 0-3 Man Utd (58th minute)
Marcus Rashford’s dribble into the box is defied by Joel Latibeaudire, but the Jamaican’s touch goes right to Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese moves himself into shooting position and hammers home.
Bruno Fernandes gets in on the scoring for @ManUtd 🤩#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/gOuiZ4fB1R
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 21, 2024
Halftime — Coventry City 0-2 Manchester United
No much drama here.
Coventry has 0.03 xG off 35% of the ball. United’s pair of goals come from 11 shot attempts to Coventry’s one.
Straightforward.
Harry Maguire goal — Coventry 0-2 Man Utd (45+1 minute)
It’s a corner kick, and Maguire gets to the spot to thump a header home.
The 2-0 lead is well-earned.
HARRY MAGUIRE 💪
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 21, 2024
The @England and @ManUtd defender rises highest to do what he does best 🤩#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/0yizXjUQ7t
Scott McTominay goal — Coventry 0-1 Man Utd (23rd minute)
Scott McTominay starts the play and goes to the back post.
Diogo Dalot gets the final pass for a McTominay finish in a gaping goal.
He just keeps on scoring goals 🤌
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 21, 2024
Scott McTominay with the finish after a fantastic overlap and cross from Diogo Dalot 👏#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/bTs7bIPHzm
Hints of an upset?
Casemiro partners with Harry Maguire at center back, and that means Manchester United will try to cover the midfield with Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay behind Bruno Fernandes.
There’s still probably far too much in United’s attack versus Coventry’s back line, but there’s more of a reason for being on upset alert than most days.
Coventry City lineup
Collins, Latibeuadiere, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell, Eccles, Sheaf, O’Hare, Van Ewijk, Simms, Wright
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Mainoo, McTominay, Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford, Hojlund
Coventry City focus, team news
The duo of Simms and Wright have been excellent up front, while in midfield Callum O’Hare brings creativity and drive but Coventry will badly miss Jamaican international Kasey Palmer who is suspended. Coventry are a tough, solid team and every single player knows the job they have to do.
OUT: Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (back), Jamie Allen (calf), Kasey Palmer (suspended)
Manchester United focus, team news
United’s defensive injuries continue to leave them in a tough spot with Harry Maguire and youngster Willy Kambwala set to start at center back once again. The quartet of Hojlund, Fernandes, Rashford and Garnacho are likely to start in attack and they should have enough quality to fire United to a second-straight FA Cup final.
OUT: Anthony Martial (groin), Victor Lindelof (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Lisandro Martinez (calf), Raphael Varane (ankle), Jonny Evans (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Antony (muscle), Scott McTominay (knock)
