In a dramatic FA Cup third-round clash, 10-man Manchester United edged past Arsenal in a penalty shootout, securing their spot in the fourth round. The teams were locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes of football, with United prevailing 4-3 on penalties.
The match began as a tightly contested affair, but United found themselves in trouble when Diogo Dalot received his marching orders in the 61st minute after a second yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Arsenal’s Mikel Merino. Despite being reduced to 10 men, United showed resilience and determination.
Manchester United vs. Arsenal
Full Penalty Shoot-Out pic.twitter.com/7NYsiP9py0
— 曼联球迷 (@_Utdbaki) January 12, 2025
Bruno Fernandes gave the visitors the lead in the 52nd minute with a spectacular finish, curling the ball into the top corner after Alejandro Garnacho capitalized on a defensive slip by Gabriel to provide the assist. However, Arsenal quickly equalized through Gabriel, who volleyed home from close range just two minutes after Dalot’s dismissal.
The game took another twist when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Harry Maguire was deemed to have fouled Kai Havertz in the box. The ensuing spot-kick by Martin Ødegaard was brilliantly saved by Altay Bayindir, who dived to his left to deny Arsenal the lead.
Arsenal piled on the pressure during extra time, with Declan Rice and Havertz coming close to finding the winner. However, Bayindir stood firm, delivering a series of outstanding saves to frustrate the Gunners.
The shootout was equally dramatic. Havertz saw his penalty saved by Bayindir, and Joshua Zirkzee stepped up to convert the decisive spot-kick, sending Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya the wrong way.
This result marked another early FA Cup exit for Arsenal, who have now been eliminated in the third round in three of the past four seasons. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s grit and composure under pressure saw them through to the next stage, leaving manager Rúben Amorim delighted with his team’s battling performance.
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