Maguire Heads Man United into FA Cup Fifth Round with Controversial Late Winner Against Leicester

Manchester United staged a dramatic comeback to beat Leicester City 2-1 in a thrilling FA Cup fourth-round clash at Old Trafford on Friday. The match seemed destined for extra time before Harry Maguire’s controversial last-gasp header secured the victory for United, sending them into the fifth round.

The game took a twist when Leicester City opened the scoring in the 42nd minute. Wilfred Ndidi’s shot was saved by United goalkeeper Andre Onana, but Bobby De Cordova-Reid was in the right place to head in the rebound and give the Foxes a 1-0 lead going into halftime.

Despite a lackluster first half, United managed to regroup after the break. They came out with more urgency and speed in the second half, earning a well-deserved equalizer in the 68th minute. A cross from Alejandro Garnacho found Rasmus Hojlund, whose effort was blocked, but the ball fell to substitute Joshua Zirkzee, who made no mistake in tapping it home to level the score.

Just as the game seemed headed for extra time, United’s veteran defender Harry Maguire headed in a Bruno Fernandes free kick in the 93rd minute to give United the win. However, television replays suggested that Maguire might have been offside when he scored, though the linesman did not raise his flag. With VAR not being used in the FA Cup until the fifth round, the goal stood, and United clinched the win.

Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was visibly frustrated by the decision, saying, “We are not defeated in Fergie time, we are defeated in offside time.” He also lamented the absence of VAR, claiming that the offside was “clear” and that Leicester deserved to go into extra time.

Despite the contentious finish, United manager Ruben Amorim expressed satisfaction with the result, acknowledging that although the performance was not ideal, the team showed resilience to turn the game around.

The victory handed Manchester United only their third win in their last eight games at Old Trafford across all competitions, and the fans were in full voice after the dramatic finish. The match was also a significant confidence booster for United, who had been under pressure after a series of disappointing results.