The 2024-25 FA Cup shifted into high gear this week with the kickoff of the third round as all 20 Premier League teams entered the fray of club soccer’s oldest knockout competition.
While Manchester City and Liverpool posted comfortable shutout victories over lower-league opponents, the third round produced one shocking result. Plymouth Argyle, currently in last place in England’s second division, advanced to the next round by knocking off top-tier side Brentford F.C. in a 1-0 road win thanks to an 82nd-minute goal from Morgan Whittaker.
But the highlight of the third round was Sunday’s thrilling encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United at London’s Emirates Stadium, a 5-3 penalty shootout win for the Red Devils. Here’s what stood out about this marquee matchup between the Premier League heavyweights.
GAME RECAP IN A SENTENCE
Manchester United were reduced to 10 men in the 61st minute and then conceded the tying goal two minutes later, but the Red Devils held their nerve with a marvellous defensive display to win in a dramatic shootout and keep alive their hopes of repeating as FA Cup champions.
A WASTEFUL FIRST HALF FROM ARSENAL
Seventeen points separate these teams in the Premier League table with Arsenal sitting in second place and Manchester United toiling in 13th. Given the respective forms of both clubs, and the fact that the Gunners were playing at home, the Red Devils entered Sunday’s contest as the decided underdog.
Arsenal called the tune through the opening 45 minutes, enjoying 60 per cent of the possession and a 4-3 edge in total shots as it carried the play. But the home side didn’t display the necessary wit to break down a resolute and well-organized Manchester United defence, quarterbacked by Matthijs de Ligt, that defended with a high line and forced Arsenal into an offside position on three occasions.
MANCHESTER UNITED SURVIVES A WILD SECOND HALF
Arsenal paid for its wastefulness in front of goal when the visitors took the lead in the 52nd minute against the run of play. A turnover in midfield by the hosts led to the ball falling to the feet of Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho, who sped down the right side, drew a defender to him at the edge of the box, and then played a smart pass to Bruno Fernandes who scored with a composed finish to give United the lead.
But Diogo Dalot earned his second yellow card of the half in the 61st minute, forcing the Red Devils to play the rest of the game with only 10 men. Arsenal took advantage just two minutes later courtesy of Gabriel Magalhães’ exquisite volley that took a deflection on its way into the corner of the net.
United’s goose appeared to be cooked when Arsenal’s Kai Havertz threw himself to the ground under the lightest of challenges from defender Harry Maguire. Video replays clearly showed that even though there was slight contact, Havertz took a dive to earn the penalty. As there is no VAR in the FA Cup, the decision stood. However, Altay Bayindir came to the rescue, diving left to tip away Martin Ødegaard’s attempt that was destined for the lower corner.
The Turkish goalkeeper made two more stupendous saves in the second half, while also riding his luck as Declan Rice, Havertz and Arsenal’s other attackers squandered glorious scoring chances that would’ve put the game away.
Bruno Fernandes and Martin Ødegaard converted from the spot to begin the penalty shootout after 30 minutes of extra time failed to settle the affair.
Substitute Amad Diallo gave the Red Devils a 2-1 lead with his composed penalty attempt, setting the stage for more heroics from Altay Bayindir. Kai Havertz stepped up to the spot in hopes of tying things up, but the German’s weak attempt was well read by Bayindir who made a critical stop.
The Turkish shot stopper’s critical save turned the tide in the favour of Manchester United, who saw Leny Yoro, Lisandro Martinez and Joshua Zirkzee each score with well-taken penalties past goalkeeper David Raya.
MAN OF THE MATCH: ALTAY BAYINDIR
With starting goalkeeper André Onana on the bench, backup Altay Bayindir earned a rare start for Manchester United and made the most of the opportunity granted to him by manager Ruben Amorim. In only his fifth appearance for the club, the Turkish shot stopper made a trio of highlight reel saves in the second half, inducing a superb effort in the 72nd minute to deny Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard from the penalty spot. In total, Bayindir made six saves across 120 minutes of regulation and extra time before making another save on Havertz in the penalty shootout.
“It’s unbelievable. We deserved to win the game by a mile but the reality is we didn’t…. Credit to their goalkeeper as well, who was probably their best player. You need things to go your way and tonight they didn’t. We scored a goal, we had a penalty, we had another three big, big chances, and we didn’t put them away,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta after the game.
According to Opta, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is the joint top scorer (nine goals) in the FA Cup since his first game in the competition (March 2020). At the same time, the Portuguese international has earned more cautions and red cards (50) in all competitions than any other Premier League player since his debut for the Red Devils in February 2020 (47 yellow cards, three red cards). He picked up a yellow card in the 38th minute on Sunday.
