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Right on the brink of collapse was Manchester United’s FA Cup defence on Friday night at Old Trafford, only to be spared by a dramatic late winner from Harry Maguire to squeeze into the fifth round. The decisive moment of the game arrived in the 92nd minute, as Maguire nodded in Bruno Fernandes’s swirling free-kick to send Old Trafford into raptures.
Prior to Maguire’s heroics, Joshua Zirkzee’s 67th-minute equaliser had thrown United a lifeline to keep a shaky FA Cup defence alive. The visitors, Leicester City, had taken the lead through Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s first-half strike, and United’s disjointed performance had left them staring at the prospect of a humiliating exit from the fourth round.
Ruben Amorim’s side had comprehensively outplayed Leicester in their two previous meetings, winning 8-2 on aggregate. However, this encounter was a different story, with United struggling to find any semblance of cohesion.
The introduction of jet-heeled Alejandro Garnacho at halftime transformed United’s fortunes, as the Argentine winger’s pace and trickery caused havoc in the Leicester defence. His involvement was instrumental in Zirkzee’s equaliser, and he continued to pose a threat throughout the second half.
Leicester’s goal had been a result of United’s porous defence, which has been a persistent problem for Amorim’s side this season. Patson Daka’s clever movement had allowed him to outfox Leny Yoro and Maguire, and his subsequent pass had released Jordan Ayew, whose fierce shot was saved by André Onana.
In the first half, United’s attacking play had been sluggish, with Manuel Ugarte’s cross and a missed touch by Mads Hermansen being the only notable threats. Patrick Dorgu, making his debut, had shown flashes of promise, but his influence had waned as the half wore on.
At the break, Amorim had replaced Dorgu with Garnacho, a decision that had raised eyebrows. However, the introduction of the Argentine winger injected new life into United’s attack, and they began to create more opportunities.
As the clock ticked down, Amorim had removed Kobbie Mainoo and introduced Zirkzee, who made an instant impact. Within moments, Ugarte had sent Garnacho racing down the left, and his subsequent cross had created chaos in the Leicester box.
Garnacho’s pace and agility had been a constant thorn in Leicester’s side, and his involvement in the equaliser was no surprise. His clever shoulder-drop and pinpoint pass released Rasmus Højlund, whose shot was blocked, but Zirkzee was on hand to finish.
As the match entered its final stages, Garnacho had a golden opportunity to set up one of United’s forwards, but he failed to capitalize. However, Maguire’s late winner ensured that United’s FA Cup defence remained intact, as they progressed to the fifth round.
The victory — somewhat a relief for Amorim, whose side has been struggling to find any consistency this season.
In the end, it was Maguire who emerged as the hero, with his late winner capping a dramatic comeback for United. The England defender has been the subject of intense speculation in the transfer window, but his performance against Leicester served as a timely reminder of his importance to the team.
