The FA Cup match between Manchester United and Arsenal quickly spiraled into chaos, and the blame for the mayhem largely fell on Harry Maguire.
What was supposed to be a classic encounter at the Emirates turned into a heated on-pitch brawl, with both teams caught in the madness.
The Penalty Incident Sparks the Fire
Tempers boiled over when the referee awarded Arsenal a penalty with 20 minutes left on the clock.
The decision followed a challenge by Maguire on Kai Havertz inside the penalty area.
The Manchester United centre-back immediately protested, arguing that he hadn’t fouled Havertz and even accused him of diving.
With no VAR available to review the call in this FA Cup match, the referee stood by his decision.
This only ignited further frustration, as Maguire angrily yelled “You cheating scumbag” at Havertz before tensions erupted into a full-blown brawl.
Players from both teams squared off, with Uruguayan midfielder Manuel Ugarte clashing with Havertz as the German player was sent to the ground.
A Heroic Save Keeps United in the Game
Amid the chaos, Arsenal’s captain Martin Ødegaard stepped up to take the penalty.
But in a dramatic twist, Manchester United’s goalkeeper Altay Bayindir made a stunning save to keep the game level, sending the match into extra time.
Back-and-Forth Drama Continues
Things didn’t settle after the penalty incident.
Manchester United initially took the lead when Bruno Fernandes found the net with a cool finish after a precise pass from Alejandro Garnacho.
However, Arsenal responded when Gabriel’s shot took a deflection off Matthijs de Ligt, wrong-footing Bayindir to equalize.
The drama continued with Diogo Dalot being sent off after a reckless challenge earned him a second yellow card, leaving United with one less player on the field.
The Tense Extra Time and Penalty Drama
As the match progressed into extra time, both teams pushed hard for a winner, but neither side could find the elusive goal.
With the game locked in a 1-1 draw, it was left to a penalty shootout to decide who would advance to the next round.
In the shootout, it was Havertz’s miss that became the turning point.
Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee stepped up to take the final penalty and calmly slotted it past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, securing United’s place in the FA Cup fourth round.
Looking Ahead
After a dramatic and chaotic match, Manchester United will now look to build on their victory in the next round, while Arsenal will have to regroup after a heartbreaking defeat.
The FA Cup always promises unpredictable moments, and this match was certainly one for the books.
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