Late FA Cup Defeat For City At Man Utd

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Late FA Cup Defeat For City At Man Utd

Last-gasp drama at Old Trafford saw Manchester United seal a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup on Friday night.

2025-02-07T21:56+00:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

07 Feb, 2025

from Old Trafford

Late FA Cup Defeat For City At Man Utd

Last-gasp drama at Old Trafford saw Manchester United seal a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup on Friday night.

Sam Stevens

2025-02-07T21:56+00:00

Late FA Cup Defeat For City At Man Utd

Last-gasp drama at Old Trafford saw Manchester United seal a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup on Friday night.

Sam Stevens

2025-02-07T21:56+00:00

Late FA Cup Defeat For City At Man Utd

Last-gasp drama at Old Trafford saw Manchester United seal a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup on Friday night.

Sam Stevens

2025-02-07T21:56+00:00

Late FA Cup Defeat For City At Man Utd

Last-gasp drama at Old Trafford saw Manchester United seal a 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup on Friday night.

Sam Stevens

2025-02-07T21:56+00:00

Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s point-blank header in the 42nd minute gave us the lead at the break, but Man Utd hit back in the latter stages to put their name in the fifth-round hat. Joshua Zirkzee’s leveller just after the hour set the scene for a 93rd-minute header from former Fox Harry Maguire to settle the tie in the North West.

There were four changes to our XI after last weekend’s damaging 4-0 reverse at Everton in the Premier League. In came Caleb Okoli, Luke Thomas, Patson Daka and the fit-again Wilfred Ndidi, back after a two-month injury lay-off. Although a stirring 2-1 victory at Spurs lifted spirits among the Blue Army, City’s form needs improvement. As does our current standing in the Premier League’s relegation zone, albeit only by a two-point margin but with 42 still up for grabs. The FA Cup is both a shot at glory and a form of respite from such worries – the 6-2 third-round success over QPR back in January was a testament to that. Naturally, City Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Old Trafford return was a pre-match talking point in Manchester. The Dutchman’s five years as a player in these parts was laden with silverware, while an unbeaten four-game stint as interim manager settled the nerves of a fraught fanbase earlier this season. Ruben Amorim’s permanent appointment has not brought the instant success the Red Devils so deeply craved. For all of Leicester’s recent issues, Man Utd themselves remain a side troubled by their own problems, having lost their last two home league matches.

A second goal of 2024/25 for Bobby De Cordova-Reid got us off to a winning start.

It was an uneventful start in truth but one which gave Leicester confidence, starting assuredly after the finding themselves two down in six minutes last week at Goodison Park. André Onana, the Man Utd goalkeeper, was the first shot-stopper put to the test. Zambia international Daka had to ride a challenge on the edge of the box, holding the ball up neatly before offloading it to Jordan Ayew. The ex-Crystal Palace striker planted his foot through the ball, around 20 yards out, and directed it well towards the top right corner. Onana made the save look easier than perhaps it was, getting two hands to it. United, on the other hand, were feeding off scraps early on. Denmark wing-back Patrick Dorgu, a January acquisition from Lecce, blazed over after a promising break for Amorim’s hosts. In the 42nd minute, Boubakary Soumaré – one of Leicester’s bright sparks – stole the ball away from Manuel Ugarte on the left channel. The Ligue 1 title-winner threaded the ball into the onrushing Bilal El Khannouss, another Fox to have impressed in 2024/25. The Moroccan shimmied his way into the box, later squaring it for Ndidi to side-foot the ball goalwards. Onana was able to parry it but only onto De Cordova-Reid’s forehead. The Jamaica midfielder was barely a foot off the line but he was in the right place at the right time to give City a rare advantage at Old Trafford.

Ruud van Nistelrooy watches on with interest from the away technical area.

Thirteen-time FA Cup winners Man Utd were always likely to come out firing in the second half. Heroic defending from Okoli, just after the hour-mark, at least made them wait for their equaliser. Ugarte slipped in half-time substitute Alejandro Garnacho on the left side of the area. The 20-year-old’s shot may have been scooped up by Mads Hermansen if not for an unfortunate clip off Wout Faes’ ankle. The ball subsequently looped up, agonisingly beyond Hermansen’s grasp, and looked to be destined to bounce over the line. Okoli, mind you, came charging in, swiping his boot at the ball, clattering it onto the bar and away from danger. Leicester had been warned and the Red Devils were level in the 68th minute. There was an air of misfortunate about it, too, as Rasmus Højlund’s initial first-time flick was blocked by Faes. The Belgian’s clearance, though, landed straight at Zirkzee’s feet. With Hermansen at his near post, the 23-year-old striker simply had to roll the ball into the net to give the locals reason for optimism. The match was wide open at times, no more so than in the 76th minute. A United corner was lobbed straight at Soumaré, on the edge of his own area. The Frenchman had the freedom of Old Trafford to run into. By the time pressure arrived, he was still able to squirm a pass through to El Khannouss. Only an inch-perfect Noussair Mazraoui sliding tackle prevented our No.11 from a one-on-one showdown with Onana.

It was ultimately a frustrating night for the Foxes.

With tension building and the spectre of extra-time looming, Garnacho slammed a close-range effort into Hermansen’s side-netting. His next attempt, with two minutes of normal time to play, was at least on target, but too close to Hermansen. Leicester have only won at Old Trafford once in the 21st century and the wait for another must go on after a last-gasp winner from Maguire. A harsh free-kick was given against James Justin for handball on the left wing, which was floated into the box by Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese laid it up perfectly for the former City defender, who appeared offside, to nod it in at the far post with seconds to spare. Late heartache for City, who now return to this season’s primary target, Premier League survival. Title-chasing Arsenal are the visitors to King Power Stadium next Saturday, but there’s confidence to take from this performance, if not a place in the next round.

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