The FA Cup third round clash between Wigan Athletic and Manchester United was a game that will be remembered for years to come. The underdogs, Wigan Athletic, stunned the footballing world by defeating the mighty Manchester United 2-0.
From the opening whistle, it was evident that Wigan had come prepared to give their all. Their relentless pressing and high-intensity play left United struggling to find their rhythm. The first goal came in the 29th minute when Will Grigg capitalized on a defensive error and slotted the ball past David De Gea. The stadium erupted with joy as Wigan took a shock lead.
Newport or Eastleigh await in the fourth round, with a path to the last 16 looking navigable for last season’s runners-up. On a night when Ten Hag’s forwards were rampant at times but wasteful at others, a defender, in Diogo Dalot, broke the deadlock and Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty: United’s chance conversion rate this season remains resolutely low but they can at least hope their season has a happy finish.
Wigan went closest first when Theo Aasgard's drilled attempt as part of a swift break was well saved by Andre Onana, but the League One club offered little during the second half to suggest they would extend United's winless away run to six matches.
The draw for the next round was held shortly before kickoff, pitting United against League Two club Newport or fifth-tier Eastleigh away. The non-league side will host the Third Round replay between those teams on January 16, two days after the Red Devils host Tottenham in the Premier League.
After Wigan carved out the tie’s first real chance it was United who chipped and chipped away against their League One opponents, taking a deserved lead in the 22nd minute through Dalot.
Both Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho would go on to hit the bar in a first half that ended with 17 United attempts but just the one goal to show for their supremacy.
United then made hard work of putting the game to bed after the break, but eventually Fernandes’ penalty killed the tie off.
Overall, it was an impressive performance by Manchester United as they displayed superior skills in all aspects of play. Their victory not only showcased their individual brilliance but also highlighted their ability to work as a cohesive unit on the field. On the other hand, Wigan needs to regroup and analyze their weaknesses in order to bounce back stronger in future matches.
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