In FA Cup football results, Manchester United beat Aston Villa 1-0 in a third-round tie at Old Trafford on Monday. An early headed goal by Scott McTominay proved decisive for Manchester United as they held on by the skin of their teeth to defend this early lead against Villa throughout an absorbing FA Cup fixture.
McTominay scored a brilliant opener and United thereby secured the initial lead in the 8th minute itself.
But from then on, Manchester United struggled to contain a lively Aston Villa side who played much better football yesterday.
The night’s biggest talking point, in fact, was why Villa had an equaliser ruled out early in the second half.
FA Cup Football Results – Manchester United Beat Aston Villa 1-0
McTominay glanced in Fred’s curling delivery to give the hosts a flying start.
John McGinn played a free kick towards Ezri Konsa, who headed the ball across the goal. And Danny Ings bundled it in with his thigh.
And immediately, Villa celebrated what they thought was a deserved equaliser. However, referee Michael Oliver was immediately talking into his mouthpiece to his VAR assistants and then checked a pitch-side monitor.
TV replays began focusing on whether Ings had been offside or had used his arm to score. And more than three minutes after the ball entered the net, referee Oliver did rule out the goal. But surprisingly, it was for an apparent block by Jacob Ramsey on Edinson Cavani as the ball was played in.
There was no real argument minutes later when Ollie Watkins converted Ings’ (played through) dink over De Gea. But this time, Oliver, denying the goal, decided that Ings was offside, though he himself didn’t raise the flag initially.
In the first half Watkins bundled wide from a Tyrone Mings flick-on and then smashed a shot against the crossbar. This was after we saw him seizing on a mistake by Victor Lindelof, who finally got a start here.
De Gea also had to make some fine saves to deny John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia as Villa dominated. On the other hand, United had to play largely on the counter-attack.
Marcus Rashford wasted a chance to increase United’s lead just before the break. Also, Emiliano Martinez tipped over a Luke Shaw piledriver.
But the second half continued in the same manner with Villa in charge but United still somehow hanging on. Although, interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s side did regain some sort of control towards the end.
