Yahoo News Coventry City firmly back on the map of English football after stunning comeback against Man Utd
Coventry City may have gone out on penalties on an ultimately disappointing end to a sensational FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium, but they put themselves firmly at he forefront of English football, for a few hours at least, as they gave mighty Manchester United one hell of a scare.
Cheered on by an incredible 36,000 Sky Blues fans and millions of neutrals watching in pubs, bars and the comfort of their homes, Mark Robins’ men turned the world-wide televised tie on its head with a dramatic second half comeback from 3-0 down to have fans and pundits up and down the land on the edge of their seats.
Coventry went so close to causing an upset from open play, with Ellis Simms hitting the underside of the crossbar in extra-time before Victor Torp steered Haji Wright’s cross past Onana in what looked like a stunning last minute winner before VAR intervened – ruling the goal out for off-side by what Robins described as a “toenail.” For a few wonderful moments the Sky Blue Army were dreaming of a place in the final, against all the odds.
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Alas, City lost 4-2 as the game was decided on penalty kicks – Robins’ side having suffered the same fate in the play-off final last May when they went agonisingly close to being promoted back to the Premier League.
Putting the disappointment to one side, Coventry City can hold their heads high after putting on a thrilling display – at least once they’d discovered their belief and confidence that had evaded them for the first hour – safe in the knowledge that they very nearly pulled off the cup shock of the competition; little old Coventry from the Championship against the biggest club in the world.
The West Midlands club continues to be a work-in-progress on the road back to the top table of the English game – where they spent 34 proud and unbroken years between 1967 and 2001 – and it’s days like this that remind everyone, not least the supporters who have had more than their fair share of dark days since dropping out of the Premier League, that the club is on its way back.
City caught the eye of many with their incredible comeback victory over Wolves in the quarter finals, but firmly cemented themselves as a club back on the up with a performance that will live long in the memory of the thousands of fans who sang their hearts out and dared to dream in their fourth trip to the national stadium in the last seven years under Robins’ care.
