9 months ago
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MANCHESTER, England (AP):
There’s still some fight left in Manchester United.
With the season hanging in the balance, Erik ten Hag’s team produced one of the most important wins of his tenure to beat Liverpool 4-3 after extra time in a thrilling FA Cup quarter-final match yesterday.
With nearly the last kick of the match, substitute Amad sent Old Trafford into raptures, ended Liverpool’s bid for a quadruple of trophies, and fired United into the semi-finals.
“Listen to the noise, you can tell what a big game it is, a huge occasion,” said Marcus Rashford, who missed a golden chance to win it at the end of regulation, but levelled the game at 3-3 in extra time. “I had to score that chance at the end ... but we got the job done and we have to get something out of this season.”
Time will tell just how significant a result this will be for Ten Hag, who has faced mounting speculation about his position in the face of a troubled campaign and restructuring at the club.
The FA Cup represents his last chance of silverware this season, while Champions League qualification is in doubt, with United sixth in the Premier League.
Defeat against the club’s fiercest rival Liverpool would likely have seen the pressure on the Dutchman grow.
Emotions changed drastically inside Old Trafford, however, when Antony levelled the game in the 87th. That set up a white-knuckle ride through to the first minute of stoppage time in extra time, with big chances missed and momentum swinging one way and then another until Amad’s winner.
Ten Hag hopes it can be a turning point for his team.
“Every team needs its moment into a season and we never had that moment,” the United manager said. “This could be that moment where the team believe and (has) energy that we can do amazing things. I think when you can beat Liverpool the way we did, then you can beat any opponent. It’s up to us to prove that point.”
Twelve-time FA Cup winners United were later drawn against second-tier Coventry in the semi-finals, and defending champions Manchester City will play Chelsea, who beat Leicester 4-2 earlier yesterday. Both matches will take place at Wembley.
The game had looked like going to a penalty shoot-out until Amad fired low into the bottom corner to beat Caoimhin Kelleher following a late Liverpool corner.
The substitute was so caught up in the moment that he was shown a second yellow card and sent off for taking off his jersey during wild celebrations.
“It’s the best goal of my life, it’s a really important moment. You need to believe in every single moment, this is football,” he said. “I am disappointed to be sent off, but what is important is to win. To beat Liverpool is a big, big moment for me.”
Ten Hag described the opening 35 minutes of Sunday’s match as the best his team had played all season.
Scott McTominay put United ahead in the 10th minute before goals from Alexis Mac Allister in the 44th and Mohamed Salah in the second minute of first-half stoppage time gave Liverpool the lead at the break.
After Antony levelled, Harvey Elliott hit the post for Liverpool and Rashford fired wide with only the keeper to beat with the final kick in regulation.
English (US) ·