Manchester United Edge Leicester City 2-1 in FA Cup Fourth Round Thriller

Manchester United advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford. The match was a nail-biting affair, with United coming from behind to win thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Harry Maguire.

Leicester Takes the Lead

Leicester City drew first blood in the 42nd minute through Bobby De Cordova-Reid. The Foxes’ midfielder collected a pass on the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful shot that beat United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana. The goal marked a deserved lead for Leicester, who had dominated the first half.

United’s Second-Half Revival

Manchester United struggled to find their rhythm in the first half, but they improved significantly after the break. Joshua Zirkzee equalized for United in the 68th minute, heading in a cross from Bruno Fernandes. The goal marked a turning point in the match, as United began to take control.

Maguire’s Controversial Winner

The match seemed destined for extra time until Harry Maguire popped up with a winner in the 93rd minute. Maguire headed in Fernandes’ free-kick, but the goal was shrouded in controversy. Replays suggested that Maguire may have been in an offside position when he scored, but with VAR not in operation until the fifth round, the goal stood.

Post-Match Reaction

United’s manager, Ruben Amorim, acknowledged that his team’s performance was far from perfect. “A good result, not a good performance,” Amorim said. “We struggled in the first half, but we improved in the second half. We’re happy to be in the next round, but we know we need to do better.”

Leicester City’s manager, Dean Smith, was left frustrated by the defeat. “We’re disappointed with the result, but we’re proud of our performance,” Smith said. “We dominated the first half and deserved our lead. Unfortunately, we couldn’t hold on, but we’ll learn from this and move on.”

Conclusion

Manchester United’s victory over Leicester City marks a significant boost to their confidence, especially after a poor run of form in the Premier League. United will now face a fifth-round tie against a yet-to-be-determined opponent, as they bid to win their first FA Cup title since 2016.