Manchester United mounted a comeback to claim a 2-1 win over Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round. Despite falling behind early, they managed to turn things around late in the game. Here’s a breakdown of how each player performed.
Andre Onana had a night to forget, conceding the opening goal and failing to make a significant impact. Leny Yoro had an average game, showing glimpses of promise but was defensively vulnerable during Leicester’s goal. Harry Maguire had a mixed outing, struggling with some passes and giving Wilfred Ndidi too much space, which led to Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s goal. However, he redeemed himself with a decisive header to secure the win, though there were questions about a possible offside. Noussair Mazraoui put in a solid shift, switching between right and left centre-back and making a crucial intervention to halt a Leicester counterattack. Patrick Dorgu was arguably the best performer in the first half, displaying confidence on the ball, pushing forward aggressively, and forming a strong understanding with Amad. His defensive work and overall energy made for an impressive debut.
In midfield, Manuel Ugarte had a difficult game, often caught out of position due to his eagerness to tackle. He struggled with ball progression, frequently passing backwards, and his error contributed to Leicester’s goal. Bruno Fernandes was largely ineffective, struggling to assert himself in open play, but his well-placed free-kick set up Maguire’s winner. Diogo Dalot, playing as a left-wing back, failed to provide much going forward and looked vulnerable defensively.
Among the forwards, Amad had some promising moments but lacked the cutting edge to make a real difference. Kobbie Mainoo found it difficult to influence the game, failing to get enough touches and losing several duels. Playing in a more advanced role didn’t suit him. Rasmus Hojlund endured a frustrating night, struggling to make an impact.
The substitutes, however, changed the game. Alejandro Garnacho injected energy into the attack, constantly driving at defenders and creating chances. He nearly scored, lifting the ball over the keeper, but Caleb Okoli made a last-ditch goal-line clearance. Joshua Zirkzee played a crucial role in United’s resurgence, scoring the equalizer and lifting the team’s tempo. Casemiro had minimal time on the pitch but added experience in the dying moments.
Ultimately, Manchester United left it late, but their resilience paid off with a hard-fought victory.
