For a brief moment, it appeared that Coventry were ready to write perhaps the greatest FA Cup story ever written.
Victor Torp tucked home at the conclusion of extra time to make it 4-3 against Manchester United, sparking wild celebrations in the Coventry end at Wembley.
However, the celebrations were cut short by an offside call, and United eventually won on penalties following an incredible comeback by the Championship team.
At the conclusion, sky blue players on the pitch and sky blue spectators in the stands shed tears.
“We’ve just told them [the players], they’ve put themselves right up there in the history of the football club,” stated Coventry manager Mark Robins.
“People will talk about this game for a long time.”
‘If he had cut his toenail, we wouldn’t be talking about sanctions.’
Coventry City may have missed out on the FA Cup, but they contributed to a semi-final classic that will be remembered for years.
When Bruno Fernandes put Manchester United up 3-0 in the 59th minute, the Sky Blues looked defeated.
Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire had placed the Red Devils up at halftime, but Fernandes appeared to have sealed the stalemate.
However, the Sky Blues stormed back.
Ellis Simms’ sixth FA Cup goal of the season appeared to be a consolation in the 71st minute, but Callum O’Hare scored eight minutes later with a deflected finish.
“That got everybody’s tails up,” observed Robins, an FA Cup champion with Manchester United in 1990, following the match.
Then, five minutes into additional time, Haji Wright scored from the penalty spot, sparking scenes of absolute ecstasy among 36,000 Sky Blues fans.
Even more drama ensued as Coventry thought they had stolen a goal at the conclusion of extra time through Torp, only for Wright to be deemed offside.
“We were 20 seconds from going to an FA Cup final then 30 seconds later we’re in a penalty shootout,” Robins said.
“Had he [Wright] cut his toenail, we wouldn’t be talking about penalties.”
Guy Mowbray, who was commentating for Match of the Day at Wembley Stadium, stated, “They will be talking about this FA Cup semi-final forever.”
Ian Wright, a former England and Arsenal forward, stated Coventry “really came into it” as the match “descended into chaos”.
“They almost did it,” Wright explained on ITV1.
‘It will hurt’
Coventry has lost on penalties at Wembley before.
In the Championship play-off final against Luton last May, they battled back from behind to force extra time.
After losing 6-5 on penalties, they were unable to qualify for Premier League.
“It occurred in the summer. “We were so close to becoming a Premier League team,” Robins remarked.
Coventry have wowed the nation during their most successful FA Cup run since winning the trophy in 1987.
Despite trailing 2-1 to Wolves in the quarter-finals, they scored two goals in stoppage time to advance.
And they gave United a good scare before they went out.
“Today will hurt because we were so close,” Robins stated. “We struck the crossbar and had a goal disallowed. I am incredibly proud of my players.
“This FA Cup run will be discussed in Coventry City circles for a long time. We can’t be too sad about it.”
GET MORE RELATED CONTENTS ON LIFESTYLEROOM.NET
Leave a Reply