FA Cup: United Force A Replay Against West Ham

Manchester United, on Sunday, forced an FA Cup quarter-final replay against West Ham United at Old Trafford.

A late Anthony Martial goal kept the home side in the FA Cup after a stunning free-kick from Dimitri Payet gave West Ham the lead.
Man United Force A Replay Against West Ham 2 1
Payet put the visitors ahead in the 68th-minute, with a powerful free-kick from 30 yards, which curved high past United keeper David de Gea.

However, Martial levelled proceedings seven minutes from time after getting in between two defenders to hook a cushioned volley into the net from a tight angle.

Advertisement

Slaven Bilic’s side pressed for a win in the final stages, as De Gea saved superbly from Michail Antonio. It was sneaking into the far corner until the Man United shot-stopper plunged to his right to push it round the post.

There were two moments of controversy in the game – first was when Payet was denied a penalty after he was fouled by Marcos Rojo in the box, secondly was Bastian Schweinsteiger blocking the West Ham goalkeeper in the build-up t Martial’s equaliser.

With the Hammers boss, Slaven Bilic claiming his side were robbed on both ocaasons.

Speaking to news-men after the game, Bilic said: “There have been a couple of crucial situations that go against us. For me, it should have been a penalty on Dimitri Payet.

Advertisement

“Rojo slides and when you are sliding in the box and the ball is nowhere near you. You are taking a big gamble and a big risk. It is a penalty.

“The equaliser, it was hard to see but it was obvious, a foul by Schweinsteiger on Randy. I am also a bit gutted for that.

When told that United boss Louis van Gaal thought it was a dive, Bilic responded: “Come on. If you have a screen, show me, I am going to defend my point at Cambridge. There is more than a contact. It is definitely not a dive.

“Nobody in the world can say there wasn’t a touch. Then if it was a touch, and it is more than a touch, it is a penalty. When you are sliding in the box from behind, I am not saying it was nasty, but it was mistimed.

“In our dressing-room after the game it was kind of silent. We are little but disappointed because we were there the last few minutes, and the time when you concede makes you a little bit down.

Advertisement

“My assistants told me that Payet scored a similar freekick in the warm-up. Make no mistake, it was pure class of magic.”

Van Gaal on the other hand believed Payet was guilty, he said: “He was more or less diving. He was maybe touched but not enough to fall like that.

“I’ve seen the video and I think Schweinsteiger got a push off the defender (Michail Antonio) and he did not push the goalkeeper deliberately.”

The result means both teams would meet again at the Boleyn Ground for one last FA Cup tie before the commencement of the semi-finals at Wembley.

Leave a comment

Advertisement