Coventry City 3-3 Man Utd LIVE RESULT: United sneak through to FA Cup final on penalties despite epic Sky Blues comeback
MANCHESTER UNITED have sneaked through to the FA Cup final on penalties after Coventry came back from 3-0 down to take the tie to spot kicks.
The Red Devils took the lead through Scott McTominay's 23rd-minute finish.
Right on half-time, Harry Maguire doubled his side's advantage with a bullet header from a corner.
United captain Bruno Fernandes made it 3-0 just before the hour mark after pouncing on a Coventry defensive error before Ellis Simms netted for 3-1 to begin the Sky Blues' epic comeback.
Callum O'Hare's deflected effort flew past Andre Onana to make it 3-2 - and Haji Wright's 95th-minute penalty completed a stunning turnaround to take the FA Cup classic to extra time.
Victor Torp thought he etched his name into FA Cup history in the 120th minute, only for his strike to be ruled out by VAR for an offside in the build-up.
The tie was decided by penalties, which saw Rasmus Hojlund slam home the decisive spot kick to spare Man Utd's blushes and secure their spot in the final.
- Match result: Coventry City 3-3 Man Utd (PENS 2-4)
- Coventry City team: Collins, Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell, Eccles, Sheaf, O'Hare, Van Ewijk, Simms, Wright
- Man Utd team: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Mainoo, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho, Hojlund
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Defensive woes
It will be Casemiro slotting in beside Harry Maguire in the Manchester United back four today.
Diogo Dalot is warming up in the right back spot, Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the left-back spot.
In a United side that concede so many chances per game, Coventry will be hoping to take theirs when they come.
Final preparations
The two squads making their way out to warm up.
Much more Coventry fans than United in the stadium at the moment as they sample the big day out.
A great cheer for the sides when they took to the turf.
How they got here
A look at how the two teams have got to Wembley and to this game this afternoon.
Coventry
- 6-2 vs Oxford United
- 4-1 vs Sheffield Wednesday (replay
- 5-0 vs Maidstone United
- 3-2 vs Wolves
Man Utd
- 2-0 vs Wigan Athletic
- 4-2 vs Newport County
- 1-0 vs Nottingham Forest
- 4-3 vs Liverpool
Man in the middle
Rob Jones is today's referee.
He's showing 150 yellow cards in his 32 games refereeing across all competitions this season.
That includes 12 yellows in three games in the FA Cup this year, too.
30 minute warning
Half an hour until kick off and Wembley is beginning to fill lovely.
Heading out
The sun is shining and the United players have made their way out to begin their warm ups.
Long run
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is in a race against time to get to Wembley - having not long completed the London marathon.
A four-and-a-half hour time is respectable for Ratcliffe, who drew likenesses from the tough run and running United.
He told BBC: "There are some parallels, I have to say. They both require some grit!
"Always in a marathon after 30k it gets quite difficult. I don't think we're quite at 30k at United yet. We're probably just at the first 10k. It's a long journey in football.
"I'd love to build a big new stadium too. I think it would be fantastic for the north of England.
"To regenerate that area and build a Wembley of the north would be a massive project if we can achieve it."
Latest odds
And Robins is right, when you look at the odds. United are overwhelming favourites.
Probably quite a few seeing the value in Coventry.
odds:
- Coventry 7/2
- Man United 1/5
Underdogs
While Mark Robins admits most people tuning in will expect a Manchester United win today.
And while he is disappointed with their current form, he doesn't blame his squad for thinking ahead to the game.
Speaking ahead of today, he said: "First and foremost, we've got to be right. We've lost three of our last four, it's not brilliant form that's for sure at this stage of the season.
"People have been talking about, has there been one eye on this game? I doubt it, although you could be forgiven for thinking about the game before it's played.
"We know they are clearly favourites to win this game by a million miles, they are expected to win, it's as simple as that.”
Clinging on
Erik ten Hag may well be clinging on to his job but admits he's as frustrated as anyone at their results this season.
He's hoping his side seize this opportunity.
He said: "Yes, of course we want to win every game so when we don't win we are disappointed. We are frustrated but we know also we can beat the best teams.
"We drew twice against Liverpool, we beat them in the FA Cup, we played very good against Chelsea. When we play to our levels we can achieve really high highs. Last season was last season.
"We want to achieve every season, we want to win trophies, we have a big opportunity. We are in a semi-final but it's a huge challenge."
Taking it in
The Coventry players taking in their surroundings here a short time ago.
It's clearly a massive occasion for the club, so the players must try to take as much of it in as they can.
One or two spotting family members up in the box.
Choices from the bench
And the two sets of substitutes, with a severe lack of depth in the United options.
Coventry: Wilson, Binks, Dasilva, Kelly, Allen, Godden, Torp, Tavares, Andrews
Man Utd: Bayindir, Amass, Jackson, Ogunneye, Amad, Eriksen, Forson, Antony, Wheatley
Coventry team news
Kasey Palmer's creativity is a big miss for the Sky Blues this afternoon.
But in Ellis Simms and Haji Wright, they've two in attack who will cause problems to this United back four today.
COVENTRY XI: Collins, Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell, Eccles, Sheaf, O'Hare, Van Ewijk, Simms, Wright
Team news
Erik ten Hag has named his XI for this afternoon's Wembley semi final.
And they're a centre back light in the team - meaning there will be someone playing out of position this afternoon. More on that soon.
MAN UTD XI: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Mainoo, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Garnacho, Hojlund
Two teams
Team news coming in just a couple of minutes time.
The United defence could look interesting....
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Prepared
Erik ten Hag says his side have done their homework on today's opponents.
And he reckons the United players will have to be at their best to reach May's final.
He said: “We did our job, we are prepared and we know their team, how they play, the individual abilities of the players and we know the manager, he's doing a fantastic job over there so we know a lot about them.
“Of course they are dangerous. They are in the semi-final, then it's logical. Last season they were not that far away from promotion to the Premier League, so they do a fantastic job over there.
“We have seen the game against Wolves in the quarter-final, the mentality is fabulous. We have to play to our best levels.”
Early team news
We'll get the two XIs shortly. Around half past for the two sides.
Man Utd face an injury crisis in defence, with Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane all missing out.
And at left back, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are also absent.
Coventry are without Kasey Palmer, who serves a ban for two bookings in the competition to date.
The second of those come for running on the park to celebrate the Sky Blues’ late win over Wolves in the previous round. Harsh….
Stage is set
The scoreboard is live and the first few supporters are making their way inside the national stadium.
A sea of sky blue was celebrating here less than 24 hours ago.
And there's a louder set of supporters in similar colours making their way down Wembley Way.
Sunday's semi
Hello! We’re back at Wembley again this afternoon for an intriguing FA Cup semi final between Coventry City and Manchester United.
The winners know they will face Manchester City in the showpiece event at the end of the season.
Should United progress beyond their Championship opponents this afternoon, it would be a re-run of last season’s FA Cup final.
Coventry will have something to say about it, though. And their army of fans make the trip to the national stadium looking for one of the biggest scalps in recent history.
