Altay Bayindir saved Kai Havertz’s penalty in an inspired goalkeeping display to send 10-man Manchester United into the FA Cup fourth round on penalties in a Premier League tie League at Arsenal.
Bruno Fernandes gave the visitors the lead in the 52nd minute before Gabriel did the same for the equalizer two minutes after Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second yellow card.
Martin Odegaard then saw a spot-kick saved during the second half of normal time in an outstanding performance from Bayindir.
Fernandes, Odegaard, Amad Diallo, Leny Yoro, Declan Rice, Lisandro Martinez and Thomas Partey all scored in the shootout before Joshua Zirkzee emphatically converted the winner, with Bayindir touching Havertz’s low effort – the second spot kick of Arsenal – against a post and removed.
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Gabriel Martinelli’s early denial was the highlight of an unpromising first half before this gripping contest sprang to life seven minutes after the restart.
United took the lead through Fernandes’ strike from the edge of the box in a quick counter-attack, sparking an extraordinary dramatic procession for the remainder of the half.
Two minutes after Diogo Dalot was sent off for a second booking for a foul on Mikel Merino, centre-back Gabriel’s low shot following Bayindir’s punch was deflected by Matthijs de Ligt to bring Arsenal level on 27 minutes. regulation time.
Momentum appeared to have turned decisively in Arsenal’s favor when they were subsequently awarded a penalty after Harry Maguire was deemed to have impeded Havertz’s run, although the contact appeared minimal and could have been judged differently if the intervention of the video assistant referee (VAR) had been authorized previously. the fifth round of the competition.
United’s outrage turned to joy when Bayindir brilliantly saved Odegaard’s penalty, tipping the firm strike hard to his left.
In a sign of growing tensions – a time-honored tradition of the match between two powerhouses of the English game – Ugarte and Havertz clashed for several seconds, with both managers perhaps grateful for the absence of VAR as a melee ensued.
Bayindir had only featured in the EFL Cup this season, and the Turkey international appeared to make up for lost time by tipping Rice’s header on Odegaard’s delivery over the bar and diverting Rice’s low shot beyond his far post with the narrowest of margins. .
Andre Onana’s understudy could have done little if Havertz had not rejected a keeper on another Odegaard delivery, stabbing his finish 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 came closest to scoring when Zirkzee’s deflected shot was diverted by David Raya, producing an outstanding reaction save to divert the ball around his first post.
