Manchester United's route to FA Cup final 2023-24

Published at :May 24, 2024 at 5:01 PM

Modified at :May 24, 2024 at 5:01 PM

The Red Devils are just one step away from lifting FA Cup trophy

Manchester United have had a torrid season with their lowest-ever finish in the Premier League. However, the only respite in the Red Devils’ season has been reaching the FA Cup final where they will take on Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday in a repeat of last year’s final.

While the FA Cup campaign too has been far from dominant, United will look to capitalize on this opportunity to win their first trophy since Jose Mourinho’s time in charge, as the pressure on Erik ten Hag mounts game by game. Here is Manchester United’s road to the FA Cup final so far:

Round 3: Wigan Athletic 0-2 Manchester United

Manchester United started their FA Cup campaign with a comprehensive 2-0 win over EFL League One opposition Wigan Athletic on 9th January. A Diogo Dalot opener and a Bruno Fernandes penalty sealed the deal for the Red Devils in a match where they had 33 shots on goal. This match also marked the debut of teenage prospect Omari Forson.

Round 4: Newport County 2-4 Manchester United

Fans expected a routine win against fourth-tier side Newport County in the fourth-round fixture. And it started as expected with Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo scoring for the Reds to put them up within 15 minutes.

However, they then squandered the 2-goal lead, before Antony scored his first goal of the season to put United a goal up before Rasmus Hojlund sealed the deal in stoppage time.

Round 5: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Manchester United

Manchester United faced Premier League opposition in the FA Cup for the first time. The match was tightly contested with both the teams having their fair share of opportunities. However, Casemiro’s 89th minute dramatic goal was enough to take United past bottom-half Forest into the next round.

Quarter-Final: Manchester United 4-3 Liverpool

With an encounter against familiar foes, Liverpool set up for the quarter-finals, many United fans must have been nervous. They had to stop the Reds’ machinery after the Red Devils had lost comprehensively to their rivals Manchester City in the league earlier in the month.

However, Manchester United produced one of their best displays in the season in an absolute FA Cup Classic, as United took an early lead only to concede two, with unlikely hero Antony squaring things off in dramatic fashion in the 87th minute.

Harvey Elliot then gave Liverpool the lead in the first half of extra time, with supporters expecting it to be the winning goal. However, Marcus Rashford equalized in the 112th minute, before Amad Diallo sent Old Trafford into a frenzy with a last-minute winner to take United through against their bitter rivals.

Semi-Final: Coventry 3-3 Manchester United (2-3 on penalties)

Manchester United’s performance against Coventry City was a perfect summation of their season, with some brilliant moments and impressive performances, followed by a raft of mistakes and finally a total capitulation. Manchester were 3-0 up by the early part of the second half, coasting towards a routine but impressive victory through goals by Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.

However, not even the most pragmatic United fans could have predicted what was to come next, as Coventry pulled back two goals late in the game, with finally Haji Wright dramatically equalizing in the last minute to force the game into extra time. The probable fairytale finally ended for Coventry after they were beaten 3-2 on penalties.

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