United scrape into FA Cup final after stunning Coventry comeback

Manchester United blew a 3-0 lead and needed a last-gasp winner from Championship side Coventry to be overturned but scraped into the FA Cup final with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory, where they will once again meet Manchester City.

Their celebrations when Rasmus Hojlund scored the crucial penalty were fuelled by relief after an astonishing and woeful collapse had almost cost them.

Perhaps this was Erik ten Hag’s ‘Mark Robins moment’ – the Coventry boss saved the job of Sir Alex Ferguson with a winner in this competition in 1990. Hojlund’s spot-kick may have saved Ten Hag – but the fightback from Robins’ side exposed all the flaws of the Dutchman’s tenure.

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Erik ten Hag has taken Man Utd to another FA Cup final… just!

Coventry pulled off a similar late show against Wolves in the quarter-finals. But this was a horror show from United who hit the panic button when Ellis Simms pulled one back with 19 minutes to play.

It had all been so comfortable until then, with Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes putting United into a seemingly unassailable position. But with a centre-back injury crisis compounding a vulnerability and openness in United’s play Coventry capitalised.

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Callum O’Hare’s deflected shot looped over Andre Onana and in the 95th minute, Haji Wright levelled it up from the spot after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s handball.

There was drama in extra-time with Fernandes and Simms both hitting the bar before Victor Torp thought he’d scored the clincher on 121 minutes only for it to be ruled out by VAR for offside in the build-up.

When Casemiro’s opening penalty of the shootout was saved by Bradley Collins it seemed Coventry would complete the most incredible FA Cup turnaround – but O’Hare was denied by Andre Onana and when Sky Blues captain Ben Sheaf blazed over, Hojlund fired in a fine penalty to clinch it.

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Coventry boss Mark Robins consoles captain Ben Sheaf, who missed a key spot-kick

For 1987 FA Cup champions Coventry, 10 years on from being forced to play at Northampton’s stadium, this was ultimately another shootout defeat at Wembley after last season’s play-off final loss to Luton. But another reminder of how far the club has come from the dark days a decade ago.

For Ten Hag this was a victory but a chastening one. Two years to the day since it was announced he would be United head coach he has somehow steered his side to a record 22nd FA Cup final, where they will hope to exact revenge on rivals Man City on May 25. But even in victory, there will be fierce criticism.

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Coventry made two changes, with Callum O’Hare and Josh Eccles coming in for the suspended Kasey Palmer and benched Victor Torp.
Man Utd were forced to play Casemiro at centre-back due to an injury crisis but otherwise named a strong XI. Diogo Dalot came in for the injured Willy Kambwala.

Keane: Man Utd looked like the Championship team; they rode their luck

Roy Keane on ITV Sport: “The substitutions, the goal gave Coventry belief and all of a sudden they looked like a Premier League team in extra-time and United looked like a Championship team.

“Manchester United’s players and supporters didn’t go over the top because they knew they were lucky today. They were almost embarrassed at the end, but they got the job done to get to a cup final.

“I don’t like what I see from this United team. They are hard to like. They play in moments. We go on about leadership and character, but I don’t see any of this from this United group.

“You do not give a Championship team hope they can get back into the game from 3-0 down, but that is what this United team does. They give up chances and goals, we’ve seen it all season, so I don’t know why we’re surprised. My goodness, they rode their luck at the end.”

Onana booked – and then again in the shootout. But no suspension

Like Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez, Man Utd’s Andre Onana was booked during normal time and then again in the shootout. However, while Martinez is set to be suspended for a game by UEFA because of accruing three yellows in the Europa Conference League, Onana will be free to play in the FA Cup final.

“He definitely won’t miss the final – our rules are different to UEFA’s as our sanctions for accumulated yellow cards ends after the quarter-finals,” said the FA.

Ratcliffe shows the strain as United almost blow it

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has taken over football operations at United but may wonder what he’s let himself in for! Ratcliffe ran the London Marathon earlier on Sunday but looked exhausted watching on as Coventry threatened to pull off the greatest FA Cup comeback in history.

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Avram Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe pictured during the FA Cup semi final at Wembley Stadium

250/1? Coventry’s incredible comeback in pictures

Coventry were priced up at 250/1 to draw when it was 3-0 by Sky Bet…

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Ellils Simms swept in Coventry’s first goal against Man Utd to spark the comeback

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Coventry City’s Callum O’Hare’s shot looped in off Aaron Wan-Bissaka

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Coventry City’s Haji Wright puts away a 95th minute penalty to level it up!

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3-0 to 3-3 – Haji Wright and his Coventry team-mates celebrate!

What’s next?

Coventry switch their attention back to securing a play-off place in the Sky Bet Championship when hosting Hull City on Wednesday 24 April, kick-off 7.45pm.

Manchester United host Sheffield United in the Premier League on Wednesday 27 April, kick-off 8pm.