Harry Maguire’s last-gasp goal in the 93rd minute secured a dramatic FA Cup victory for Manchester United against Leicester City at Old Trafford on Friday night. However, Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy was left outraged as the winning goal was allowed to stand despite replays suggesting an offside position.
Ruben Amorim’s United side struggled throughout the match, falling behind in the first half to Bobby Reid’s strike. The Red Devils responded when Joshua Zirkzee found the net just five minutes after coming on as a substitute. With the game seemingly heading into extra time, Bruno Fernandes delivered a late free-kick that found Maguire, whose header sealed the win for United. Yet, controversy erupted as the absence of VAR in the early rounds of the FA Cup meant Leicester had no recourse to challenge the decision.
Van Nistelrooy, a former Manchester United player and interim manager earlier in the season, expressed his frustration over the officiating error, calling it “unacceptable.” He praised his team for their resilience after a disappointing loss to Everton but lamented the outcome being decided by what he deemed a clear mistake. “We were not beaten in Fergie time, we were beaten in offside time,” he said, referencing United’s reputation for late goals under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Leicester remain in a precarious position in the Premier League, sitting third from the bottom with only two wins in 14 league matches since Van Nistelrooy’s appointment. On the other hand, Manchester United continue to struggle under Amorim’s new system, with their chances of success this season reliant on another FA Cup triumph or a Europa League victory to secure Champions League qualification.