Manchester United and Tottenham Survive FA Cup Thrills, Premier League Teams Advance
LONDON: Ten-man FA Cup holders Manchester United dispatched Arsenal in a third-round thriller decided by a penalty shootout on Sunday, while Tottenham Hotspur survived a major scare against non-league side Tamworth.
Premier League Teams Progress
Premier League teams Newcastle United, Ipswich Town, Crystal Palace, and Southampton also punched their tickets to the fourth round with victories, while fourth-tier Doncaster Rovers advanced after a shootout.
Manchester United Edges Arsenal in Penalties
Joshua Zirkzee struck the winning penalty for 10-man Manchester United after their hectic tie finished 1-1 after extra time at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s Kai Havertz was the only one of the first four penalty takers to miss, denied by a brilliant stop from Altay Bayindir.
“I just want to help this great team,” second-choice goalkeeper Bayindir told the BBC. “I want to make everyone happy for this great club… if you are not playing it doesn’t matter. You have to be ready every minute, every second – if you are a Man Utd player you have to be ready always.”
United took the lead in the 52nd minute through Bruno Fernandes’ curling effort from just inside the box after a great run by Alejandro Garnacho. The game turned on its head 10 minutes later though, as United’s Diogo Dalot received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Mikel Merino.
Tamworth Narrowly Falls Short
Spurs needed extra time to beat brave fifth-tier Tamworth, 96 places below them in the English football pyramid, 3-0, thanks to an own goal from Nathan Tshikuna and strikes from Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson.
The game had the makings of a huge upset from the opening whistle as Tamworth more than held their own on the artificial Lamb Ground pitch and had a couple of brilliant scoring chances late on. However, the team of part-time players tired and were unable to secure one of the biggest shocks in the competition.
Newcastle Rallies for Win
Newcastle came from behind to beat fourth-tier Bromley 3-1, thanks to goals from Lewis Miley, Anthony Gordon from the penalty spot, and William Osula.
“I saw the goal light up and thought I’d have a strike,” Miley told the BBC. “Some of the lads were saying get a shot off. I’m buzzing with that. It was an unreal feeling.”
Others Advance to Fourth Round
Ipswich, who are languishing in the Premier League relegation zone, made quick work of third-tier Bristol Rovers, with Kalvin Phillips, Jack Clarke, and Jack Taylor all striking in the first half.
Eberechi Eze scored in the fourth minute as Crystal Palace held on to beat third-tier Stockport 1-0, and Southampton, who are bottom in the Premier League, celebrated a rare win with their 3-0 victory over the Championship’s Swansea City, thanks to Tyler Dibling’s brace and a strike from Kamaldeen Sulemana.
League Two Doncaster booked their fourth-round berth with a penalty shootout victory over Championship side Hull City. The tense shootout ended 5-4 after regulation and extra time ended in a 1-1 draw.
The third round concludes with one game on Monday and three on Tuesday.
Conclusion
In a thrilling round of FA Cup matches, Premier League teams and lower-tier teams alike showed their mettle in the competition. Manchester United’s penalty shootout victory over Arsenal will be remembered, as will Tottenham’s narrow win over non-league Tamworth. The FA Cup continues to showcase the excitement and unpredictability that makes it such a beloved tournament.
FAQs
* How did Manchester United advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup?
Manchester United defeated Arsenal in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 after extra time.
* Who scored the winning penalty for Manchester United?
Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning penalty in the shootout.
* Which lower-tier team made a surprising run in the competition?
Tamworth, a fifth-tier non-league side, pushed Tottenham to extra time in their match but ultimately fell 3-0.