Manuel Ugarte's headbutt drama shadows Man Utd's FA Cup triumph

By SABC Sport
13th January 2025

In a dramatic FA Cup third round clash at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester United edged past Arsenal in a tense penalty shootout, securing a 5-3 victory despite playing with ten men for much of the match.

However, the spotlight post-match was not solely on the result but on an altercation involving Manuel Ugarte.

The game saw Manchester United take an early lead in the second half when Bruno Fernandes scored a splendid goal in the 52nd minute.

Arsenal's response was swift, with Gabriel Magalhaes leveling the score just two minutes after United were reduced to ten players following Diogo Dalot's dismissal.

A controversial moment arrived when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Harry Maguire challenged Kai Havertz in the box. Martin Odegaard stepped up but his effort was brilliantly saved by United's goalkeeper Altay Bayindir.

The aftermath of this decision led to a heated confrontation between players of both teams, with Maguire confronting Havertz, igniting a brawl.

During this chaos, television replays captured Ugarte appearing to headbutt Havertz, though the incident went unnoticed by referee Andrew Madley at the time.

This has led to speculation that Ugarte could face retrospective action from the Football Association.

Arsenal had several chances to clinch the match during regular and extra time but failed to capitalize, leading to the penalty shootout where Bayindir once again proved pivotal with his save from Havertz, ensuring United's progression to the fourth round.

Reflecting on the match, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim expressed satisfaction with his team's resilience and spirit. "I think we play, especially in the first half, we play better (than) in the first game. We were better in set pieces today, more aggressive. We show different spirit, even with 10 men. We are improving on that aspect," Amorim said in the post-match press conference.

He highlighted the challenges his team faced, particularly in ball possession and dealing with Arsenal's pressure, but praised the team's defensive solidity and the connection with the fans that contributed to what he described as "a very good day for us in that aspect."

The match, while a triumph for United, is now overshadowed by the potential disciplinary action against Ugarte, which could impact United's lineup in upcoming matches.