Stephen Dunmoye
Following Manchester United against a championship club, Coventry on penalties, United will face rival Manchester City in May which will serve as a replica of last year’s final.
Coventry, a Championship side, gave Premier League’s Manchester United what could be biggest scare they ever had.
It all looked like it was going to be an easy game for United after an half time two goal lead. A third goal was put in the third mid-way into the half time before a twist ensued.
Manchester United only took the game into penaty shoot-out because Coventry City’s Victor Torp’s effort in injury time in extra time was ruled out for offside by video assistant referee Peter Bankes.
But after Bradley Collins saved United’s first kick, from Casemiro, Andre Onana denied Callum O’Hare, then unsettled Ben Sheaf with some verbal jousting – and the Coventry captain missed – allowing Rasmus Hojlund to win it.
What the watching United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe made of it would be interesting to know. Thirty-four years ago, Mark Robins’ goalscoring heroics in the FA Cup kept Sir Alex Ferguson in a job. Who knows what damage Robins’ Coventry side have done to Erik ten Hag’s chances of keeping his?
United thought they were cruising to a repeat of last season’s final with neighbours Manchester City when they led 3-0 thanks to goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.
But in front of Ratcliffe, who had completed the London Marathon earlier in the day, co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer and new technical director Jason Wilcox, United imploded and Coventry took full advantage.
After Ellis Simms and O’Hare reduced the deficit, Haji Wright kept his nerve in stoppage time to score from the spot and send the game into extra time.