Manchester United pulled off a dramatic late victory against Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round, keeping their title defense alive with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford. The Red Devils had to fight back from behind after Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s first-half goal, but second-half substitutes Alejandro Garnacho and Joshua Zirkzee changed the game, with Harry Maguire sealing the win deep into stoppage time.
Leicester Take the Lead as United Struggle
With five defeats in their last seven home matches, United came into the game low on confidence. Leicester, struggling in the Premier League under Ruud van Nistelrooy, sensed an opportunity to cause an upset.
The first half was a frustrating affair for the home side, as they failed to register a shot on target. Jordan Ayew tested Andre Onana early on, while Leicester’s Patrick Dorgu—making his debut after a January move from Lecce—fired over the bar.
Leicester’s persistence paid off in the 42nd minute when Manuel Ugarte lost possession near the touchline. Bilal El Khannouss pulled the ball back to Wilfred Ndidi, whose shot was saved by Onana, but De Cordova-Reid reacted quickly to nod home the rebound, silencing the Old Trafford crowd.
Garnacho’s Impact Turns the Game Around
United’s lackluster first-half display led to boos from the stands as the players walked off at halftime. Ruben Amorim responded by bringing on Alejandro Garnacho, and the Argentine winger immediately injected energy into United’s attack.
Rasmus Hojlund came close early in the second half, and moments later, Garnacho thought he had scored when his deflected shot looped over goalkeeper Mads Hermansen, only for Caleb Okoli to clear acrobatically off the line.
United finally equalized in the 67th minute after more good work from Garnacho down the left. His cross was flicked on by Hojlund, and though his effort was blocked, Zirkzee pounced to tap into an empty net for his fifth goal of the season.
Maguire’s Last-Minute Winner
As the match headed towards extra time, United pressed for a winner. Their persistence paid off in the 93rd minute when Bruno Fernandes delivered a free-kick into the box, and Maguire rose highest to head past Hermansen. There were calls for offside, but with no VAR in place, the goal stood, securing United’s place in the next round.
A Crucial Win for United’s Season
Despite the victory, concerns remain for United, who are 13th in the Premier League and struggled for attacking options after allowing Marcus Rashford and Antony to leave in January. The team also paid tribute to Lisandro Martínez, who suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury last week, by wearing training tops with the message "Mucha Fuerza Licha" (Great Strength Licha).
With this comeback win, United keep their FA Cup dreams alive. However, they will need to improve their consistency if they hope to compete for silverware this season.
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