London, (UK):- Ten-man Manchester United beat Arsenal 5-3 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round at Emirates Stadium with second-choice goalkeeper Altay Bayindir putting out a deserving performance between the sticks.
The match began with Arsenal dominating possession, holding 70% of the ball and pressing Manchester United relentlessly, but, despite their territorial advantage, the Gunners struggled to break down a determined and organized United defence.
Gabriel Jesus was a key early concern for Arsenal, after sustaining a knee injury, but despite initial treatment, he had to leave the pitch on a stretcher before half-time, replaced by Raheem Sterling.
United, initially on the back foot, broke the deadlock early in the second half. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring in the 52nd minute with a stunning first-time strike on the counter-attack, a goal that seemed to spark life into the match. However, their lead was short-lived.
Just moments later, Diogo Dalot was shown a second yellow card and sent off for a rash challenge, leaving United down to 10 men.
Arsenal capitalized on Dalot’s dismissal, and Gabriel equalized in the 63rd minute, slamming in from a corner that United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir struggled to clear.
The Gunners then had a golden opportunity to take the lead, awarded a penalty for a controversial foul on Kai Havertz in the box. But in a heroic moment, Bayindir redeemed himself with a stunning save to deny Martin Ødegaard’s spot-kick.
The match continued to swing wildly, with Arsenal missing several chances to seal the win, including Havertz’s squandered opportunity in the penalty shootout.
The match entered extra time, and while both teams battled fiercely, there was no winner after 120 minutes.
The shootout was where United’s resilience shone. Bayindir, the hero of the penalty save, once again stepped up to deny Havertz from the spot. United held their nerve, with perfect penalties from Fernandes, Amad Diallo, Leny Yoro, and Lisandro Martinez.
It was up to Joshua Zirkzee to convert the fifth penalty and secure United’s progression to the fourth round, sending Arsenal crashing out in heartbreaking fashion.
Despite being reduced to 10 men for the majority of the match, Manchester United showed immense character and composure, with standout performances from Bayindir, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire. For Arsenal, missed opportunities, including a penalty save and Havertz’s costly miss, ultimately led to their downfall.
Emirates FA Cup Fourth-Round draw
UNITED v Leicester
Leeds v Millwall/Dagenham and Redbridge
Brighton v Chelsea
Preston/Charlton v Wycombe
Exeter v Nottingham Forest
Coventry v Ipswich
Blackburn v Wolves
Mansfield/Wigan v Fulham
Birmingham v Newcastle
Plymouth v Liverpool
Everton v Bournemouth
Aston Villa v Tottenham
Southampton/Swansea v Burnley
Leyton Orient/Derby v Man City
Doncaster v Crystal Palace
Stoke v Cardiff
The fourth-round ties are due to be played between Friday 7 and Monday 10 February.
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