New Delhi: After a timid and goalless first half in the FA Cup third round encounter between Arsenal and Manchester United, the action flared up after the half time whistle as both teams bagged a goal each. Manchester United struck first as the visitors took the lead via Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese international wrapped a first time shot around David Raya’s goal to finish off a move started by Alejandro Garnacho.
However, his counterpart Martin Odegaard, didn’t have the same luck in terms of directly affecting the scoreboard as the Norwegian International missed the chance to give his side the lead from the spot. Chasing the winner, Kai Havertz was brought down in the box by United defender Harry Maguire but the contact was minimal, causing a spat in the United penalty box. No VAR meant that the penalty stood and up stepped Odegaard to give his side the advantage.
For the first time in his senior career, Martin Odegaard misses a penalty. 🙅♂️ pic.twitter.com/IxbNXrzieG
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) January 12, 2025
Or so he thought. United’s number two Altay Bayındır rose to the occasion and guessed Odegaard’s penalty correctly to send the away end in ruptures. The Arsenal captain looked for the bottom right corner, keeping his penalty low and in the corner but Bayındır guessed right and dove to left to keep the ball out. It was an excellent stop from the Turk who then ensured that the ball didn’t bounce back towards Odegaard for the follow up.
Manchester United’s indiscipline haunts them again
📸 – CLEAR SECOND YELLOW!
TOO LATE, TOO RECKLESS, VERY FOOLISH BY DALOT! pic.twitter.com/mSKmNXDUtz
— TheEuropeanLad (@TheEuropeanLad) January 12, 2025
Manchester United have had indiscipline issues on the pitch this season and somehow it is their Portuguese stars that are facing the majority of them. The club had seen a total of 59 yellow cards and three red cards before taking on Arsenal and were shown four yellow cards in the game alongwith a red card for Diogo Dalot. The Portuguese full back, who was already on a yellow went diving in a challenge on Mikel Merino, earning himself a second yellow.
Dalot’s rash challenge saw him being given his marching orders with little under half an hour left to play in normal time, making the game an uphill battle for his side. This rashness cost them almost immediately as less than two minutes after Dalot’s sending off, Arsenal were back on level terms after United had taken the lead against them earlier in the half. Arsenal’s numerical advantage caused havoc for United after that.
The Gunners dominated the game from there on with United being forced to play on the defensive and would’ve won the game in normal time had Odegaard converted his penalty. It wasn’t just Odegaard’s miss that costed Arsenal the win in normal time, the Gunners were wasteful infront of goal, missing glorious chances from close range and the number of times they did find their shot on target, Bayındır proved to be a wall in the Manchester United goal.
Manchester United full back Diogo Dalot sent off for a second yellow with just under half an hour left to play for the Red Devils in their FA Cup third round clash against arch rivals Arsenal before Martin Odegaard missed his spot kick. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
