Ten-Man Manchester United Knock Goal-Shy Arsenal Out Of FA Cup
After a fiery 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Sunday, Altay Bayindir was Manchester United’s unlikely hero as the holders held on for more than an hour on penalties.
As the wasteful Gunners had another day to forget in front of goal, Martin Odegaard saved a penalty from United’s stand-in goalkeeper in normal time before denied Kai Havertz in the shootout.
Before Diogo Dalot was sent off on the hour mark for a second bookable offense, Bruno Fernandes had given the visitors a lead early in the second half.
Arsenal wasted numerous chances to win the tie in 90 minutes with the help of Gabriel Magalhaes, who had to make a quick penalty save.
As Josua Zirkzee, who has received a lot of criticism, fired the winning penalty past the enthusiastic traveling support, United were flawless from the start.
Defeat is another hammer blow to Mikel Arteta’s attempts to end a five-year trophy drought for Arsenal, who also lost the first leg of their League Cup semi-final 2-0 to Newcastle on Tuesday.
United’s record-breaking 2-2 draw away at Premier League leaders Liverpool last weekend was much improved after four straight defeats.
The Red Devils were content to sit back and contain Arsenal before beginning to counter-attack with Ruben Amorim’s game plan, which appeared to be similar.
However, neither side posed much attacking threat in a flat first half.
Gabriel Martinelli had the ball in the net, but he hit the crosser well offside.
Before the break, Gabriel Jesus was taken off with a suspected serious knee injury, which caused Arsenal’s injury problems to worsen.
If the first 45 minutes lacked action, the second period more than compensated.
Seven minutes after the restart, United sucker-punched the Gunners.
Gabriel’s error allowed Alejandro Garnacho to scurry into the top corner and teed Fernandes perfectly into the top corner.
Arsenal’s recent offensive, which was without Bukayo Saka and was without him, has struggled to create creative goals.
However, Dalot’s indiscipline let them down just as United was beginning to think they could add another result to Amorim’s story.
When the Portuguese full-back was already booked, the Portuguese full-back unnecessarily slammed into Mikel Merino, who was immediately sent off with a second yellow card by referee Andy Madley.
Shouts of ‘ cheat’ ,
Arsenal had the advantage of one-point in a hurry.
The Brazilian center-back’s shot deflected in off Matthijs de Ligt, but Bayindir flung at Martinelli’s cross and slammed the ball into his path.
When Harry Maguire was harshly punished for a challenge on Havertz that caused a melee between the home team and the home side, the tie was turned around.
Maguire angrily shouted “cheat” towards Havertz, who then went head-to-head with Manuel Ugarte.
However, Bayindir made amends with a brilliant save to put Odegaard’s penalty back after Bayindir was partially culpable for the Arsenal equalizer.
With his tip over Declan Rice’s header, United needed more Bayindir heroics to reach extra time.
As Arsenal failed to end the tie before an extra 30 minutes, Havertz somehow fired over from the crossbar in the opposite direction and Rice drilled a long shot wide.
Due to Zirkzee’s deflected effort, David Raya had to make a fine save low to his right in extra-time, which Arteta’s men could have lost.
But Raya was powerless to deny Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez and Zirkzee from the spot to send United through.
Source: Channels TV
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