FA CUP SEMI FINAL REVIEW: “I love this club more than my wife”
It’s 4:45pm on Sunday 21st April. Manchester United are 3-0 and cruising into another FA Cup Final. I had managed to get a ticket in the Coventry end after one of my mates had foolishly booked a holiday on semi final day.
At that point it had been a lovely day out, the game going how most expected, with a sense of pride wafting around the Coventry end. It’s not everyday you reach an FA Cup semi final playing against Manchester United.
However, Wembley is something Coventry know well. This was their 4th appearance there in 7 years. So the idea that they were going to let the occasion get the better of them was never going to wash.
The game exploded into life in the 70th minute when Ellis Simms produced a great finish off the shin pad and into the bottom corner. United suddenly retreated, Onana taking an age with goal kicks, wing backs ambling towards throw ins. The mindset had changed and Coventry sensed blood.
A few minutes later O’Hare slapped a shot on the back on Wan-Bissaka, the ball took off and seemed to take an age to come down from orbit and drop into the corner. Wembley was stunned.
At this point it seemed inevitable that Coventry were going to equalise. A mid-table Championship side vs 12 time FA Cup winners, and the game was only going one way.
Cue injury time drama, Haji Wright sent over the cross, the ball was turned back towards goal and hit Wan-Bissaka hand. Wright sent the keeper the wrong way. Carnage.
At this point, the two pre match cans of Stella sold inside the concourse of Wembley were taking effect. Really Wembley? The National stadium and the best you can do is Stella, in a can? Unfiltered though, whatever that means. I dashed out for a full time bathroom break, fans hugging, jumping for joy on the way out.
As extra time started, both teams dragged themselves up and down the pitch. Fernandes reminded us of his quality and smashed the bar from the edge of the box. Not to be outdone, Ellis Simms also rattled the bar. It looked as though penalties were beckoning again. But, as we approached injury time in extra time, Wright broke the lines, Torp summoned one last stretch to connect with his cross to slide the ball in the corner. Unbelievable scenes followed, which seemed to go on for an age. A man from the row in front turned to face us, sobbing with joy, stating “I love this club more than my wife”. Unfortunately before the tearful man could submit to his divorce papers to his unloved other half. There was a VAR check underway, which would eventually rule out the goal by a blurry toenail.
Penalties it was then, having had the goal in the last minute taken away it felt like momentum was with Manchester United. And that is how it turned out. Rasmus slotted home the winning penalty to witness possibly the least celebrated semi in history.
VAR spoiled Coventry’s romantic comeback and I’m still not sure its the correct decision. Unless the VAR truck have super HD zoom capabilities, how can they clearly decide; firstly when the ball left O’Hare’s foot and the exact position of the end of Haji Wright’s toe? It can’t be 100% clear on this, so how can it rule out a goal on that evidence. The whole thing needs a rethink, but that’s up to people clever than I to come up with a solution.
On the whole though, that was one of the greatest matches I’ve ever had to witness live. It’s a shame that it didn’t get it’s fairytale ending but it does go to show that the magic of the cup is still alive.
Match Rating- 9/10
VAR Joy Killer Rating 1/10