David Moyes’ hopes of a Wembley victory have been dashed, as Erik ten Hag is now in prime position to experience another jubilant celebration at the iconic stadium.
Humorously, the West Ham manager playfully suggested that he would also show off his own dance moves, just like Ten Hag did after his team’s win on Sunday, in the event of a FA Cup triumph.
After Said Benrahma opened the scoring in the 54th minute, Manchester United mounted a dramatic comeback to secure the win and keep their quadruple aspirations alive. Nayed Aguerd’s own goal in the 77th minute leveled the score, before Alejandro Garnacho curled in a low shot in the 90th minute and Fred sealed the deal deep into injury time. The home fans had displayed the silverware before the game, which may have been a fateful decision in hindsight.
In a display of celebration for their recent successes, Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes held up the Carabao Cup and Casemiro and women’s goalkeeper Mary Earps proudly presented their FIFA team awards, which were collected in Paris on Monday. Additionally, David de Gea was given a silver glove to commemorate his 181st Manchester United clean sheet, which was earned in a 2-0 Cup victory on Sunday. The Old Trafford museum, which houses the club’s silverware, may need some more room now to display the recent victories. It’s been a long wait for silverware, but six years later and it has arrived.
Man United celebrate Garnacho’s late strike
With Danny Ings unable to play due to being cup tied, Michail Antonio was his replacement and had the first chance of the first half. Said Benrahma put him through in the 23rd minute and although David De Gea narrowed the angle and used his silver glove to block the shot, former Old Trafford boss Moyes was pleased with his side’s work at the break.
Ten Hag then made changes to the team to gain more foothold, but it was West Ham who took the lead when Thomas Soucek’s ball stayed in play and Benrahma fired in a blistering shot that De Gea had no chance of stopping. Ten Hag then brought in first-choice players, Lisandro Martinez and Marcus Rashford, in an effort to rescue the game, but it was Antonio who should have extended the lead only to be denied by De Gea once again.
Casemiro thought he had equalized from a Bruno Fernandes free kick, only for the VAR to rule it offside due to his outstretched arm. Nayef Aguerd then headed in an own goal five minutes later and in the 90th minute Alejandro Garnacho curled a low shot into the bottom corner to secure the win and keep Manchester United’s quadruple dream alive.
Then in the last seconds Aguerd dithered on the ball, Weghorst won it and laid it back for Fred to finish.
The Manchester United fans were bouncing, they regularly are these days.
