Amad Diallo produced the finest moment in his young career with a last-minute extra-time winner to send Manchester United through to the FA Cup semi-finals with a 4-3 win over bitter rivals Liverpool.
Scott McTominay’s opener ensured United led for the vast majority of the first half, but a quick-fire double from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah ensured Liverpool were in front at the break.
Antony levelled late on to force extra-time, in which Harvey Elliott and Marcus Rashford traded goals, before Amad came up with a dramatic winner at the death. After a breathless encounter from start to finish that will live long in the memory, Express Sport takes you through four key talking points…
Amad breaks Liverpool hearts
Amad was still collecting dust on the bench in the 85th minute of normal time, at which point Liverpool were 2-1 ahead. The 21-year-old, nor the thousands in attendance at Old Trafford, had the faintest idea of what was to come.
Substitute Antony sent the game to extra-time with a classy strike minutes from time, but that was just the start of the drama. Venturing beyond the customary 90, Elliott looked to have won it for Liverpool with a deflected shot from distance, before Rashford levelled with an ice-cool finish past Caoimhin Kelleher.
As the minutes ticked down and penalties seemed inevitable, up stepped Amad, who led a 121st-minute United break and found the bottom corner to end Liverpool’s FA Cup hopes in agonising fashion.
Having picked up a booking for tripping Virgil van Dijk only minutes prior, Amad was shown a second yellow card for taking off his shirt in the heat of the celebration, and made his way down the tunnel still buzzing from his moment in the spotlight.
Rashford atones for shocking mistake
The game was in Rashford’s grasp in the final seconds of normal time, but from close range, with the far corner begging to be found, he opened his body up and inexplicably turned it past the post.
Liverpool were consequently allowed to steady the ship, and a passionate Jurgen Klopp team talk before extra-time saw them do just that. But Rashford pulled his socks up with a spot in the semi-finals and bragging rights at stake, slotting past Kelleher in the 112th minute and playing a vital role in United’s victory.
Klopp stung by FA Cup demons
It’s hard to believe that Klopp had only once led Liverpool to the FA Cup quarter-finals prior to this season’s run. The Reds will go no further in the German’s last campaign at the helm, ending his hopes of a quadruple (of sorts) comprising the Carabao Cup, Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.
Beating United in a classic at Old Trafford would have been a sweet-tasting way to prepare for his Anfield departure, but Klopp will get a chance at revenge when the two sides meet in the Premier League on April 7.
