Maguire leads Manchester United to the fifth round of the FA Cup

Manchester United overcame a 2-0 deficit to defeat Leicester City 2-1 in their FA Cup fourth-round match on Friday at Old Trafford, courtesy to a goal from Joshua Zirkzee and a questionable header from veteran defender Harry Maguire.

Maguire headed in the game-winning goal from Bruno Fernandes’ free kick in the 93rd minute, just seconds before the final whistle, just as it looked like the match was about to go into extra time.

“We played a bit better, with a little more speed, winning second balls,” United manager Ruben Amorim remarked after the game. “Then we managed to turn things around, so it was a good result, not a good performance.”

VAR isn’t utilized in the FA Cup until the fifth round, and although television replays suggested Maguire was offside, the linesman didn’t raise his flag.

When asked about losing in “Fergie time,” a term that was notably used to describe how manager Alex Ferguson’s United sides often scored in stoppage time, irate Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said, “We are defeated in offside time; we are not defeated in Fergie time.”

Adding, “(VAR) wasn’t necessary,” “You have a few millimeters and a few inches, VAR. This was in line half a meter ahead. It’s a difficult one. We were worthy of entering extra time and fighting through it, maybe with penalties.

The outcome gave the supporters something to celebrate after a few jeers sent the squad off at halftime, and it gave United only their third victory in their past eight games at Old Trafford in all competitions.

“A great finish to the game,” Maguire said to ITV reporters. In the second half, we performed much better. We didn’t really get going in the first half, played at a leisurely pace, and were far from good enough. We most likely earned our defeat at halftime.

In fact, Holders United played poorly in the first half. Leicester took advantage in the 42nd minute when goalie Andre Onana denied Wilfred Ndidi’s attempt, but Bobby De Cordova-Reid was there to head in the rebound from close range.

Alejandro Garnacho fired a cross into the box for Zirkzee in the 68th minute, but defender Caleb Okoli stopped Rasmus Hojlund’s attempt. Within three minutes of his arrival on the field, Zirkzee tapped home a wonderfully positioned ball.

A disgruntled Rasmus Hojlund was left free in front of goal as Garnacho wasted a fantastic opportunity to put a shot inside the near post but instead struck the side netting. Garnacho made an instant impact down the left as a second-half substitution.

Amorim directly attributed United’s difficulties to himself.

“The coach is the first responsible, when one team doesn’t perform, doesn’t improve, it is the coach,” he explained. “But we are here to do things and to see the game, to study the game and try to improve for the next game.”