Harry Maguire's last-gasp heroics propel Man Utd in FA Cup drama

The match, filled with drama and controversy, ended with veteran defender Harry Maguire scoring a controversial header in the 93rd minute to secure the victory.

The game saw Leicester take an early lead through Bobby De Cordova-Reid, who capitalized on a blocked shot by Wilfred Ndidi to score just before halftime. United, however, fought back in the second half with Joshua Zirkzee equalizing in the 68th minute after coming off the bench.

His goal came from a rebound following a blocked shot by Rasmus Hojlund.

The match seemed destined for extra time until Maguire scored from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick. The goal was contentious as television replays suggested Maguire might have been offside, but with no VAR in operation for the FA Cup until the fifth round, the goal stood.

United manager Ruben Amorim, reflecting on the match, emphasized the importance of the result rather than the performance. "I cannot focus just on saving the season with the momentum of the Cup. That's not the way I see football, it's not the way I see Manchester United," Amorim said.

He admitted the performance was not up to par but praised the team's resilience. "The moment is clearly not good enough. It's a good result. We move forward to the next stage. We have a week to prepare but today was not a good day."

Leicester's manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, expressed his frustration with the offside call, remarking, "We are not defeated in Fergie time, we are defeated in offside time."

He believed the game should have gone to extra time, stating, "VAR wasn't necessary. This was half a metre clear in line."

Maguire himself acknowledged the team's lackluster first half but was pleased with the turnaround. "The first half was nowhere near good enough, we played at a slow tempo and we didn't really get going," he said to ITV. "A great finish to the game."

This win marks only United's third victory in their last eight matches at Old Trafford across all competitions, giving fans a moment of joy amidst a challenging season.

Amorim took full responsibility for the team's inconsistent performances, stating, "The coach is the first one responsible. When a team doesn't perform and doesn't improve, it's the coach."

As United look forward, the focus will be on improving their gameplay to match their fighting spirit shown in this cup encounter.

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