Sat Feb 08 11:29:42 UTC 2025: ## Maguire’s Offside Winner Sends Leicester Crushing Out of FA Cup

**Manchester, England –** Manchester United snatched a controversial 2-1 victory over Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday, thanks to a stoppage-time header from Harry Maguire that appeared to be offside. The goal, scored in the third minute of injury time, sparked outrage from Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, who claimed the decision was a “clear and obvious mistake” and unacceptable at this level of the competition.

The match, played at Old Trafford, saw Leicester take the lead through Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s first-half strike. United struggled to create chances until the introduction of Alejandro Garnacho at halftime, whose pace and skill led to Joshua Zirkzee’s equaliser. Then, in the dying seconds, Maguire headed home a Bruno Fernandes free-kick to secure the win.

However, replays showed Maguire was potentially half a meter offside when the ball was played. The absence of VAR at this stage of the FA Cup, a decision confirmed by the Football Association in December, left the officials to make the final call, much to the ire of Leicester and many pundits.

Van Nistelrooy’s post-match fury was echoed by former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, who criticized the linesman’s failure to flag the offside. Ian Wright also highlighted the impact of the controversial decision on Leicester’s confidence and Van Nistelrooy’s managerial career.

While Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim admitted his side were fortunate, he also argued that the incident highlighted the importance of VAR, even if his team benefited from its absence this time.

Despite the win, Amorim acknowledged concerns about his side’s performance, particularly their poor first-half display. He also addressed the debut of January signing Patrick Dorgu, explaining his decision to play him at right-wing back despite his usual left-back position.

The victory, though controversial, propels Manchester United into the next round of the FA Cup. However, the debate surrounding the use of VAR in the competition, and the impact of officiating errors on the result, will likely continue.

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