United completes FA Cup comeback in stoppage-time
Harry Maguire’s controversial stoppage-time header handed Manchester United a 2-1 comeback win over Leicester City and booked its place in the FA Cup fifth round.
United yet again started poorly at Old Trafford, where it has been dismal of late, failing to register a shot on target in the first half and falling behind to a Bobby De Cordova-Reid goal.
The former Fulham man applied an easy headed finish after goalkeeper Andre Onana could only parry Wilfried Ndidi’s shot into the path of the Jamaica forward.
Ruben Amorim’s men improved after the break and had a wonderful chance to equalise through substitute Alejandro Garnacho, but his deflected shot was miraculously cleared off the line by Caleb Okoli via the crossbar.
Those heroics were in vain however, as United did find the equaliser just minutes later with Joshua Zirkzee scoring from close range after more good work from Garnacho, who provided United with a lot of impetus from the bench.
Leicester seemed to have stemmed the tide and was on the brink of extra-time, but it was undone by Maguire’s controversial header in the 93rd minute.
He powered Bruno Fernandes's deep free-kick across goal and in, although replays showed the defender was offside.
However, with VAR not being introduced in this season's FA Cup until the fifth round, the fortunate Red Devils edged through.
Maguire's winner continued United's fine home record in the competition, with the club having now won 17 of its past 19 FA Cup matches at Old Trafford in regulation time.
It could be a good omen for United, with the ex-Leicester defender becoming the first United player to score a winning goal in second-half stoppage-time in the FA Cup since Anthony Martial against Everton in April 2016, with the club going on to win the competition that season under Louis Van Gaal.
The late goal was a bitter pill to swallow for Ruud Van Nistelrooy's men, although De Cordova-Reid did mark his 20th appearance in the FA Cup with a goal, his third in the competition and first for Leicester.
Amorim laid into United's performance and suggested his team needs to move on from the notion of "Fergie time", having earned a reputation for being late winners under legendary former boss Alex Ferguson.
"We had to believe until the end but this game has nothing to do with the time of Fergie," Amorim said.
"I think the performance ... we have to do so much better with the ball and without the ball. We didn't have any energy in the beginning, especially in the first half.
"Then in the second half we played a little bit better, with a little more speed, winning second balls.
"We managed to turn things around so it was a good result, but not a good performance."
United had just two shots – neither of them on target – before half-time.
Amorim said he must take the blame for United's continued attacking shortcomings, adding: "The coach is the first responsible.
"When a team doesn't perform, doesn't improve, it is the coach. But we are here to do things and to see the game, to study the game and try to improve for the next game.
"I think it's the small things, if you see the games sometimes, we need to control the ball, to have the ball, don't give the ball away in the first pressure.
"It's the small things, it's the big things, it's everything. At the moment, it's hard away but especially at home. We have to cope with that and we will try to do it next game."
