(Reuters) – Captain Harry Maguire sent Manchester United back to the FA Cup semi-final with a 10-man winner opposite Norwich City on Carrow Road on Saturday.
The game looked ready for a penalty kick after Norwich, who had sent Timm Klose in the 89th minute, defended himself excellently against the consistent rebound of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team to Maguire’s goal two minutes from the end.
The victory extended United’s unbeaon streak to four youth matches and secured the club’s thirtieth FA Cup appearance for the last four.
“It wasn’t a spectacle, we didn’t threaten enough or create enough chances,” said Solskjaer.
“But I’m very happy to be in the last four and it was a tight workout, we had over a minute for a wonderful variety of players.” We’ve done what counts in the Cup, ” said the Norwegian.
Solskjaer made eight changes from the team that beat Shefbox United 3-0 in the Premier League on Wednesday, with the team’s players kicking off.
After a discreet first half, United advanced 51 minutes when Juan Mata touched a centre for Luke Shaw and Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo did well to hang the ball that fell at home.
But Norwich remained in his task and matched himself through a long-distance soft punch from T Cantwell, the end drilling in the gcircular corner of 2 five yards with 1 minute and five remaining.
Solskjaer threw Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic as United tried to evade extra time and the impetus returned to his appearance when Norwich klose defender was sent off for shooting Ighalo to the edge of the area in the 89th minute.
Traffic slowed in overtime, but Norwich’s giant defense kept United at bay, with a consistent target with Tim Krul doing well to evade a Maguire target that is ahead at a time when a consistent waiting time.
But with Norwich dying in the shootout, Maguire controlled hitting a loose ball after a scrum in the area.
Reporting through Simon Evans; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar
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