Manchester United recovered from an astonishing collapse to beat Coventry on penalties in an FA Cup classic on Sunday, setting up a second straight final against Manchester City.
Erik ten Hag’s men won the shootout at Wembley 4-2, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring the decisive spot kick after the teams were level at 3-3 following extra time.
The game perfectly encapsulated a chaotic season for Ten Hag’s men, who are well off the pace in the Premier League.
There was no hint of what was to come when United coasted into a 3-0 lead against their second-tier opponents in the London sunshine, with goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.
But they have made a habit of tossing away leads in recent weeks.
Second-half strikes from Ellis Simms and Callum O’Hare gave the 1987 FA Cup winners hope and Haji Wright levelled from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time, capping a scarcely credible comeback.
Coventry fans taunted Ten Hag with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” as belief infused the massed ranks of supporters clad in light blue.
A gripping period of extra time followed, with both teams hitting the woodwork, before United held their nerve to win the shootout.
“It was an incredible game, a strange game too,” Ten Hag told ITV. “We had total control for so long and then gave it away in the last part of the game. We did show resilience to win the penalty shootout.”
“We have to improve,” he added. “We talk a lot about this. First, you have to put yourself in a winning position but then you have to take it over the line.”
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