Manchester United defeated Leicester City 2-1 in a dramatic FA Cup fourth-round match at Old Trafford, with Harry Maguire scoring a controversial stoppage-time winner. The absence of VAR in this round of the competition allowed the goal to stand despite offside claims. Joshua Zirkzee had earlier equalized for United after Bobby De Cordova-Reid gave Leicester the lead.
Manchester United secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round, thanks to a last-minute goal by Harry Maguire. The match was marked by controversy due to the absence of VAR, which allowed Maguire's potentially offside goal to stand. This win propels United into the next round, despite a challenging first half and Leicester's strong performance.
The first half of the match saw Manchester United struggling to find their rhythm against a determined Leicester City side. Leicester took the lead in the 42nd minute when Bobby De Cordova-Reid headed home a rebound after a shot from Wilfred Ndidi was blocked by United's goalkeeper, André Onana [1]. United's new signing, Patrick Dorgu, started the match but was unable to create significant impact on the right flank. The home team went into halftime trailing, with their performance lacking the intensity needed to dominate the game [2].
Manchester United's manager, Ruben Amorim, made a crucial substitution at halftime, bringing on Alejandro Garnacho, which injected much-needed energy into the team. Garnacho's presence on the left flank was instrumental in creating the equalizer, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring in the 68th minute to level the game [1]. The momentum shifted in United's favor, and they continued to press for a winner. Amorim acknowledged the improved performance in the second half, stating, "The second half we played a little bit better, with a little more speed, winning second balls" [2].
The match concluded in dramatic fashion with Harry Maguire scoring a controversial stoppage-time goal to secure the win for Manchester United. The absence of VAR in this round of the FA Cup meant that Maguire's goal, which appeared offside, stood, leading to frustration for Leicester City [3]. Leicester's manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, expressed his disappointment, stating, "We are not defeated in Fergie time; we are defeated in offside time" [2]. The FA Cup rules stipulate that VAR is only used from the fifth round onwards, which added to the controversy surrounding the match's outcome.
Manchester United's victory over Leicester City in the FA Cup was a testament to their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Despite a lackluster first half, the team rallied to secure a win in dramatic fashion, albeit with controversy due to the absence of VAR. This result allows United to advance to the next round, providing a much-needed boost for the team and their fans. As the competition progresses, the implementation of VAR in later rounds may prevent similar contentious decisions from affecting future matches.