Yahoo News Andy Turner's player ratings as Coventry City's sensational comeback ends in Man Utd penalty defeat
Coventry City mounted a sensational come-back from 3-0 down against Manchester United to take the FA Cup semi-final to extra-time and penalties at Wembley Stadium.
The Sky Blues were out-classed for the first hour when goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes looked to have taken the game away from them. But a superb strike from Ellis Simms and deflected effort from Callum O’Hare reduced the deficit before Haji Wright coolly converted a stoppage time penalty to equalise and send the tie into extra-time.
Victor Torp had what looked like a late winner cruelly disallowed by VAR before City lost 4-2 in a dramatic penalty shootout.
READ MORE: Coventry City v Manchester United live updates
READ MORE: Coventry City transfer state of play ahead of summer transfer window
Cheered on by 36,000 loud and proud fans forming a sea of sky blue, Mark Robins’ men struggled to contain the Red Devils in a difficult first half, conceding the opening goal in the 23rd minute when McTominay got on the end of a Diogo Dalot cross to the far post in a difficult opening half an hour when United enjoyed 76 percent of the possession, created eight attempts on goal and hit one crucial one on target.
Brad Collins made a brilliant save on the stroke of half-time to deny Marcus Rashford but Maguire headed home from the resulting corner kick to send the Premier League side in comfortably 2-0 up at he break. Fernandes extended the lead just before the hour mark when City lost possession in the box and the midfielder hit a hard and low shot that deflected off Bobby Thomas’s calf to beat Collins at his near post. But substitute Fabio Tavares provided a brilliant cross for Simms to hit a sensational first time shot past Onana. O’Hare then added a second for the Sky Blues in the 78th minute when his shot deflected over the United keeper before Victor Torp was denied an equaliser by a stunning save from the United keeper.
But Wan-Bissaka handled in the box deep in stoppage time to allow Wright to slam home from 12 yards and take the tie to overtime, when Wright screwed wide and Simms hit the underside of the crossbar to go agonisingly close to snatching a winner from open play.
STARTING FORMATION: 3-4-3
BRAD COLLINS: 7
Dived for Diogo Dalot’s 23rd minute low cross but missed it, allowing Scott McTominay to slot home at the far post. Regained his composure to take a threatening ball into the box under pressure from red shirts. Pulled off a brilliant save, tipping over to deny Marcus Rashford but well beaten from the resulting corner as Harry Maguire picked his spot with his head. Beaten at his near post for the third after a wicked deflection off Thomas. Made a good save in the shootout.
BOBBY THOMAS: 7
Made a crucial block with his head to deny Bruno Fernandesin the 20th minute and brought the ball out well, passing with precision. However, the centre-half was one of three players who didn’t get close enough to Maguire for United’s second goal before the break. Got more confident as the game went on, making a terrific sliding tackle to stop Hojland in extra-time.
JOEL LATIBEAUDIERE: 6
Read the game well and drove out of defence to throw himself into a couple of early challenges to knock the likes of Rasmus Hojland off his feet. Dalot’s low cross for the opening goal just evaded him. Gave the ball away in his own box leading up to the third goal.
LIAM KITCHING: 6
Took a no-nonsense approach to defending, reading the danger well and getting in plenty of blocks and tackles. A bit loose with the odd stray forward pass.
MILAN VAN EWIJK: 8.5
Deployed as a wing-back, the Dutchman launched his long throw early on and was confident in possession, taking on and beating players as he drove forward out of defence. Really confident in possession and one of City’s best players on the day.
JOSH ECCLES: 6.5
Headed clear the first United corner of the afternoon in a disciplined and confident performance from the Cov Kid. Drove forward, going past his marker into the box and sent in a low cross for City’s first and best chance of the opening half.
BEN SHEAF: 8
Looked comfortable on the big stage where he made excellent use of the ball when he had it at his feet. One of three players unable to get close enough to Maguire for the second goal. Far more influential after the hour as City mounted their brilliant comeback.
JAKE BIDWELL: 6
Got forward from his wing-back position on the left, looking to send in decent early balls behind. Had his work cut out like the rest of his team-mates against such quality opposition.
CALLUM O’HARE: 8.5
Busy and lively in possession and worked incredibly hard out of possession, pressing and tracking. Sent a diving header over the bar after the break as City mounted a fight-back and had a hand in the build-up to Simms’ goal. Scored with a deflected effort as he made a real impact after the break. Had a hand in the move for what we thought was a winner from Torp.
HAJI WRIGHT: 8
Attempted one early break away but Dalot was too quick for him and mopped up. Worked hard but struggled to make a significant impact in a difficult first half. Continued to toil away after the break and showed nerves of steel to equalise from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Raced past Casemiro on the counter attack in extra-time but ran out of pitch. Fed by O’Hare late on when he hit his shot across the face of goal and just wide at the far post. Played the ball in for Torp for the disallowed late winner as he was judged to be fractionally off-side.
ELLIS SIMMS: 9
Held the ball up well and laid it off to his team-mates well. Unlucky not to connect with a Josh Eccles’ cross which was cut out by the outstanding defender Dalot. Hit a brilliant first time finish to reduce the deficit and set up an exciting end. Played a lovely square ball to O’Hare for his goal. A goal and an assist topped an impressive display from the striker who didn’t look out of place against United. Hit the underside of the bar late on in what looked like it would be the winner. Played with a real swagger!
12th MAN: 10
The Sky Blue Army were super from start to finish, out-singing United fans throughout and more than playing their part in the sensational fight-back.
SUBSTITUTES:
LUIS BINKS (63 mins, for Kitching): 8
Played well and won the late penalty when he sent in a cross that was handled by Wan-Bissaka. Defended really well, throwing himself in a crunching tackle to deny Fernandes. Outstanding late cameo.
FABIO TAVARES (63 mins, for Latibeaudiere): 7.5
Added a real spark with a decent cross cum shot and then sent in the ball for Simms to score. Terrific cameo but appeared to go off injured at the halfway point of extra-time.
VICTOR TORP (63 mins, for Eccles): 7
Hit a stunning shot from the edge of the box that was denied by a brilliant save as City threatened to equalise. Thought he had scored the late winner, only to be ruled out for off-side.
JAY DASILVA (79 mins, for Bidwell): 7
Got forward well to help City’s fight-back. Defended really well.
MATTY GODDEN (105 mins, for Tavares): 6.5
Added fresh legs for the last 15 minutes.
Subs (not used): Ben Wilson (GK), Liam Kelly, Jamie Allen, Kai Andrews.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dioga Dalot, Caremiro, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka; Scott McTominay, Kobbie Mainoo; Alejandro Garnacho , Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Rasmus Hojlund.
GOALS:
SKY BLUES: Simms (71), O’Hare (78), Wright (90+5, pen)
RED DEVILS: McTominay (23), Maguire (46), Fernandes (58)
City lose 4-2 in a penalty shootout.
REFEREE: Robert Jones
ATTENDANCE: 83,672
NEXT UP: Hull City (h) Wednesday, April 24 (7.45pm).
