10-man holders triumph in FA Cup third round

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Altay Bayindir saved Kai Havertz’s shoot-out penalty as part of an inspired goalkeeping display to send 10-man Manchester United through to the FA Cup fourth round on penalties in an all-Premier League tie at Arsenal.

Bruno Fernandes had given the visitors a 52nd-minute lead before Gabriel equalised two minutes after Diogo Dalot’s dismissal for a second yellow card.

Martin Odegaard then had a spot kick saved during the second half of regular time as part of an exceptional performance by Bayindir.

Fernandes, Odegaard, Amad Diallo, Leny Yoro, Declan Rice, Lisandro Martinez and Thomas Partey all scored in the shoot-out before Joshua Zirkzee emphatically converted the winner, with Bayindir touching Havertz’s low effort – Arsenal’s second kick – against a post and out.

Arsenal vs Man United

An early disallowed Gabriel Martinelli was the most notable moment of an unpromising first half before this gripping contest came to life seven minutes after the restart.

United took the lead through Fernandes’ strike from the edge of the box as part of a brisk counter-attack, launching an extraordinary procession of drama during the remainder of the half.

After Dalot received a second caution for a foul on Mikel Merino, centre-back Gabriel’s low shot from Bayindir’s punch was deflected in off Matthijs de Ligt to bring Arsenal level with 27 minutes of regular time left.

The momentum appeared to have turned decisively in Arsenal’s favour when they were then awarded a penalty after Harry Maguire was deemed to have impeded Havertz’s run, although the contact looked minimal and might have been judged differently had Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention been allowed before the fifth round of the competition.

United’s outrage turned to joy when Bayindir brilliantly saved Odegaard’s penalty, tipping the firm strike away at full stretch to his left.

Bayindir brilliance sends United through

In a sign of rising tensions – a time-honoured tradition of the fixture between two powerhouses of the English game – Ugarte and Havertz butted heads for several seconds, with both managers perhaps grateful for the absence of VAR as a melee ensued.

Bayindir had only previously been involved in the EFL Cup this season, and the Turkiye international appeared to be making up for lost time as he tipped Rice’s header from Odegaard’s delivery over the bar and turned the England midfielder’s low drive beyond his far post by the narrowest of margins.

There would have been little Andre Onana’s understudy would have been able to do had Havertz not spurned a sitter from another Odegaard delivery, stabbing his finish over as familiar problems in front of goal returned to concern Arsenal.

The Gunners continued to dominate the flow of chances during extra-time, but United went closest to scoring when Zirkzee’s deflected drive was turned behind by David Raya, producing an outstanding reaction save to divert the ball around his near post.

United will host top-flight opponents Leicester City in a fourth round tie to be played on the weekend of February 8.




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