The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well, and don’t Manchester United just know it.
United welcomed fierce rivals Liverpool to Old Trafford in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Sunday and the game was the perfect advert for England’s oldest cup competition.
Scott McTominay’s goal within 10 minutes gave United the dream start, but Liverpool responded by creating plenty of their own chances and it always felt like another goal was needed to prevent the visiting side from getting back into the game before half-time.
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That goal almost came after an outstanding run from Kobbie Mainoo, who danced his way down the left. Marcus Rashford pulled it back to McTominay but he couldn’t score his brace.
That was a pivotal moment and the warning sign, if United needed one, was Wataru Endo’s offside goal. It looked to be onside from the press box but the goal was disallowed.
Liverpool were slicing through United’s midfield like a hot knife through butter when they broke on the counter-attack and that pressure eventually paid dividends before the interval.
Jarell Quansah was allowed to burst down the right and Alexis Mac Allister beat Andre Onana at his front post, with the ball deflecting off the thigh of Kobbie Mainoo.
United conceded again moments later and went into the interval trailing 2-1 and although that felt cruel, Liverpool had created enough chances to score twice.
Jurgen Klopp’s side had recorded 10 shots at the break and six of those were on target. United have conceded 20 or more shots in four of their last five league games and they were far too open again, with a space big enough to park a bus in being left in the midfield.
Like every visiting side at Old Trafford this season, Liverpool had no problem creating multiple openings and Onana was called into action too many times. Usually, you cannot expect to concede so many chances and to win, but this certainly wasn’t an ordinary game and what was to unfold was extraordinary.
Liverpool started the second half on the front foot and the 9,000 Scousers revelled in the occasion as their team began to boss possession and look increasingly dominant.
It felt like only a matter of time before another Liverpool goal, but this is Manchester United and they have a tendency to surprise. Antony’s equaliser with just minutes to play – it was scored with his right foot – was remarkable and Rashford missing a chance to win the game with seconds remaining was another remarkable moment.
Although Liverpool were cruising in the second half, they were punished for not taking their chances and the game was sent to extra-time. United began to create again and Victor Lindelof unleashed a thunderbolt which was inches away from finding the top left corner.
United are an erratic side and it was a fittingly erratic game. They showed admirable spirit, grit and determination and Liverpool’s third goal in extra-time would have been enough to kill most contests, but those in red shirts refused to be beaten and fought for a response and for their manager.
Rashford’s goal to make it 3-3 promised a grandstand finish and McTominay came close to scoring a winner. A penalty shootout seemed inevitable, but Alejandro Garnacho burst forward with seconds remaining and picked out Amad, who found the bottom right corner in unlikely circumstances.
Old Trafford erupted into pandemonium and Amad was sent off for removing his shirt in the celebrations. United have often lost games for conceding too many chances this season, but they won despite allowing Liverpool opportunities, in a special game that will be remembered for decades.
The hopes of winning a trophy this year are alive and kicking, just like the magic of the FA Cup. This team is still fighting for each other and for Ten Hag.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
