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    Man Utd ratings: Garnacho transforms Amorim’s flops at half-time but Mainoo is shadow of player he was

    MANCHESTER UNITED scored a controversial last-gasp winner to dump Leicester out of the FA Cup tonight.Harry Maguire’s 93rd minute header against his old side sealed a 2-1 win at Old Trafford and spared Ruben Amorim’s blushes.Harry Maguire’s controversial late header saw Man Utd knock Leicester out of the FA CupCredit: AFPAlejandro Garnacho was the best player on the pitch for the hostsCredit: AFPUnited were absolutely dreadful in the first half and fell behind to Leicester just before the break.But they rallied round in the second half through Joshua Zirkzee’s equaliser.And Maguire’s late strike saw the FA Cup holders book their place in the next round.However, replays showed Maguire was clearly offside when he scored the winner.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLUnfortunately for Leicester, there was no VAR present at the game.And United will be counting their lucky stars they did not face another 30 minutes on the field.But who was their best player tonight? And did anyone have a game to forget?Here, SunSport’s Martin Blackburn delivers his player ratings…Most read in FA CupJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSRoy Keane launches incredible blast at ‘shocking and boring’ Man Utd after woeful first half vs LeicesterANDRE ONANA – 6Early save from Ayew and slightly unlucky with the Foxes goal but otherwise a quiet night.NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 7Makeshift centre back made a superb last ditch tackle on El Khannouss late on to keep United level. HARRY MAGUIRE – 7Former Leicester defender broke the hearts of his old club with dramatic late winner – which looked offside.LENY YORO – 6Stepped in on the left of the back three to replace injured Martinez and did a steady job. Kobbie Mainoo struggled to make an impactCredit: GettyDIOGO DALOT – 6Kept his place as left wing back despite Dorgu arrival – failed to make the most of a couple of promising openings.MANUEL UGARTE – 5Mugged by Soumare in build up to United first goal – but almost made amends with great pass for Garnacho.KOBBIE MAINOO – 5Could not make much impact and no surprise when he was subbed for Zirkzee after the hour.PATRICK DORGU – 5Left back surprisingly played on the right – a few promising moments but then hooked at the break.Joshua Zirkzee had a good performance off the benchCredit: GettyAMAD DIALLO – 6Showed signs of a link up with Dorgu and caused problems but did not see enough of the ball second half.BRUNO FERNANDES – 6Started to influence the game as it wore on and supplied the free-kick that won it for the home side.RASMUS HOJLUND – 5Back in the starting line-up and played his part in the equaliser but looked frustrated for much of the night.SUBSAlejandro Garncaho (for Dorgu, 46’) – 8Livened united up and so close to an equaliser before having a hand in the equaliserJoshua Zirkzee (for Mainoo, 64 ‘) – 7Grabbed an equaliser within minutes of coming on and asked questions of the visitorsREAD MORE SUN STORIESCasemiro (for Ugarte, 94′) – N/ABrought on for final minutes and had no time to make an impact. More

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    Harry Maguire’s Man Utd winner vs Leicester should have been RULED OUT but allowed to stand thanks to FA Cup rule quirk

    MANCHESTER UNITED’s winning FA Cup goal against Leicester should NOT have stood.But Harry Maguire’s header in injury time to make it 2-1 was allowed to stand thanks to a rule quirk in the FA Cup.Harry Maguire was in a clear offside positionHe went on to head the ball into the back of the netCredit: AlamyThe United defender was well offside as Bruno Fernandes crossed the ball in to set up the winner.But the linesman missed it, despite ITV commentator Lee Dixon describing it as “miles offside”.Normally, VAR would chalk it off, however the use of video technology is not being used in this round of the FA Cup.It was decided by the FA that VAR would only come into use from the fifth round onwards.Read More on Man UtdPreviously, VAR was used in the FA Cup in the third and fourth rounds, but only at Premier League stadiums “due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.”The FA said in a statement: “Video Assistant Referees (VAR) will only be used in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup from the Fifth Round onwards.”It has been agreed that VAR will be utilised for every match in the Fifth Round of the competition through to the Final at Wembley Stadium, and will not be in operation for the Third and Fourth Rounds.”VAR has only been used in the Emirates FA Cup previously for matches at Wembley Stadium and at Premier League grounds due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation.Most read in FA CupCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”This decision ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition.”Leicester boss and United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy was furious with the decision after full-time.Roy Keane launches incredible blast at ‘shocking and boring’ Man Utd after woeful first half vs LeicesterLeicester manager Van Nistelrooy, speaking to ITV, said: “We are not defeated in Fergie time, we are defeated in offside time.”This wasn’t necessary. VAR you have in a couple centimetres, a couple of inches, this was half a metre, clear in line. That was a hard one to take because the team deserves to draw in the end. Then extra time, stay in the game you, never know what happens.”We deserved to go into extra time, go for the battle in extra time and maybe penalties.”Decisions like these in our level are hard to swallow.”Another United great in Roy Keane didn’t hold back as he stated: “The linesman has to see it [Maguire being offside]. United got out of jail tonight. The performance itself was nowhere near good enough.”Ian Wright, appearing on ITV, said: “It’s a really poor decision for him. “That [decision] will impact [van Nistelrooy] and his managerial career!””That could have been a really good confidence booster for them.”Keane followed up: “Sometimes they criticise the big clubs getting the decisions and that’s a great example of it.”READ MORE SUN STORIESLeicester opened the scoring just three minutes before half-time with Bobby De Cordova-Reid threatening United with yet another upset loss.However, the Red Devils equalised with substitute Joshua Zirkzee on 68 minutes before Maguire’s controversial winner in the third minute of stoppage time.Ruud van Nistelrooy was raging with the decisionMaguire didn’t hold back during the celebrationsCredit: Getty More

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    We have GOT to take death threats to referees seriously… we shouldn’t assume it ‘won’t happen’ in Premier League

    YOU have to be a special sort of thug to threaten a referee with death.It’s impossible to imagine how any spectator could wield a knife or point a firearm at a man because he disagrees with a football decision.Michael Oliver received death threats after sending Myles Lewis-Skelly off against WolvesCredit: PALewis-Skelly was sent off for a foul on Matt DohertyCredit: PABut it does happen and in this mixed-up world no threat to kill should be ignored.Several football officials have been murdered by bullet or blade in the US, Colombia, Somalia, Argentina and several other countries in the last dozen years.And we should not assume it could not  happen here, evidence of more than 2,500 reported assaults recently in grassroots football points to the grim possibility.Believe it or not, one recent attack followed an Under-7s game and another was on a 17-year-old assistant ref.Read More in FootballFootball is a passionate game. It is mostly played fairly on the pitch.In the professional game fortunately there are precautions in the ground and outside, supervised by the police and stewards.And Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes recently claimed that the rest of the world regarded our refereeing as “a model they would like to follow”.Correct this may be but Scholes would not wish any country to approve of the treatment of referee Michael Oliver who suffered “death threats” after Arsenal’s game against Wolves at Molineux.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSOliver sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly for a foul on Wolves defender Matt Doherty.VAR supported the call, leading to fury among Arsenal supporters.’Serious problems at PGMOL’ Ex-Prem ref blasts VAR after baffling decisions at Liverpool and WolvesThe red card was controversial but could not excuse threats of physical attacks of any type.Refs in all sports must be a protected species from violence or gross abuse.Oliver’s response has been restrained and next week he is in charge of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool.Fortunately there have been no threats towards the VAR assistant ref Darren England.He supported Oliver’s decision — one that, to be honest, seemed perhaps a notch above the  usual verdict for similar offences.A point to be made here — football is a game of great passion but when players’ react angrily to refs decisions, it does stir the rage of a number of hot-blooded supporters.And a few of them are evil enough to threaten refs with injury and even death.My view is that overall the Premier League refereeing standards are high, although conclusions involving VAR are over-elaborate — as if the ref were a chess master studying a key move.Commenting on a new report on Premier League refereeing, Scholes said that the vast majority of decisions were being made more quickly.Notably, VAR was faster and in use less often than in past seasons.The red card decision was eventually overturned by the FACredit: GettySixty-four errors had been made by refs in key incidents after 23 matchweeks this season, down from 80 in 2023-24 over the same number.Only four of 70 VAR interventions were incorrect — four too many in my book.For spectators, protracted delays are the most irritating part of VAR.And that has long made me wonder whether VAR is good value — even with the alleged improvement in accuracy and delivery at only 20 seconds.Can we be confident this figure is stopwatch precise?It wouldn’t feel like it for many of us sitting in the stands awaiting the VAR decisions.The general tone of Scholes’ comments seems fair, though and he will surely agree with the view that refs must remain aware that the drama of actual play should not spoiled by repeated stoppages, or incorrect calls.The importance of accurate refereeing should never be underestimated, either.READ MORE SUN STORIESOne bad decision can lead to some serious repercussions.Lost points, relegation, missing out on Europe, and, god help us, death threats — none of which are welcome. More

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    Man Utd 2 Leicester 1: Maguire rescues woeful United with controversial Fergie-time winner in front of legend Sir Alex

    HARRY MAGUIRE came up trumps to dump his old pals and get Ruben Amorim off the hook.Maguire pounced with the stoppage time header that saw United claw their way back from a nightmare performance and keep their hands on the FA Cup.Harry Maguire saved Man Utd from an FA Cup exitCredit: APThe defender scored the winner in the 93rd minuteCredit: AFPThe United centre back, a Leicester hero for two years, buried Bruno Fernandes’ deep free kick at the far post into the opposite corner.Yet the Foxes were fuming that the free kick was the harshest of hand ball calls against James Justin… and then replays suggested Maguire may even have been offside.With no VAR to bail them out of the mire, though, Leicester were simply out of the FA Cup and Amorim out of jail.Yet don’t let that place in the fifth round mask the grim reality of the night…United got lucky.They were, for all the first half and sizeable chunks of the second, abysmal. Clueless, listless and frankly bloody hopeless.Ruben Amorim may have claimed he let Marcus Rashford leave because the striker couldn’t get to grips with is methods.Well last night he could have got rid of at least half a dozen more, if their performance against the Foxes was anything to go by.Not until Alejandro Garnacho appeared from the bench for the second half was their even a hint of a spark about the men in red.Most read in FA CupCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSMan Utd progressed with a last-minute winnerBobby De Cordova-Reid broke the deadlock for Leicester just before half-timeCredit: APJoshua Zirkzee levelled things up for the hostsCredit: APWhen the first chance was an edge-of-the-box snapshot from Jordan Ayew to sting Andre Onana’s palms, most of Old Trafford saw it as an alarm call. It was merely an alarm.United were so dismal, that was as close as we got to a goal from either side for the rest of the half, It was a shocker.Roy Keane launches incredible blast at ‘shocking and boring’ Man Utd after woeful first half vs LeicesterQuite fitting, then, that for a long while the most pulse-raising moment was a cock-up, Mads Hermansen so nearly spilling an inswinging Amad corner over his own line.To think that United had put eight goals past Leicester in their two previous meetings this season. The more mischievous might also claim they had a better manager then, too.In fact the really roguish would probably point out that a Foxes victory would have meant Van Nistelrooy had as many Old Trafford wins to his name as Amorim this season.And three minutes before the break that prospect got a lot closer when Leicester snatched a lead which only went down as a shock because neither side had come near to it before.It came – surprise, surprise – after United, as so often this season, had got themselves in a tizzy deep in their own half and coughed up possession.Instead of taking the safe option and simply clearing his lines, Manuel Ugarte faffed around with a never-on flick and Boubakary Soumare pounced.Keeper Onana stuck out a foot to block Wilfred Ndidi’s point blank sidefoot, yet the ball hit Bobby De Cordova-Reid in the face and flew back over the line.A scrappy goal in the scrappiest of games…no wonder the fans let rip with a chorus of boos. It takes a lot before this bunch turn on their own, but finally they’d cracked.Never mind letting Rashford go because he didn’t buy into the manager’s methods. You could have said the same for half a dozen of them tonight.Maguire was in an offside position for the goalUnited desperately needed a spark, a star, from somewhere and Amorim chucked Garnacho on the from the bench to provide it.The response was hardly immediate, yet midway through the second half Garnacho finally brought Old Trafford to life. United too, just when it was beginning to look a lost cause.Ugarte finally seemed to realise his team-mates were in red by finding the Argentine winger instead of a blue-shirted Fox.Garnacho hared in and hit a shot that clipped Wout Faes and arced over keeper Hermansen towards goal.Yet with 70-plus thousand about to celebrate, Caleb Okoli threw himself back, stuck out a leg and somehow turned the ball against the bar, down onto the line and away.The Leicester centre back celebrated as though he’d just scored the winner at Wembley. Three minutes later he was on his knees, a United finally strung it together.Once more it came from Garnacho with another drive down the left and low cross. And once more it involved a ricochet off Faes, this time from Rasmus Hojlund’s flick.But this time instead of bouncing to safety it rolled oh-so invitingly to Zirkzee and the United substitute, on for Kobbie Mainoo four minutes earlier, couldn’t miss.READ MORE SUN STORIESGarnacho could have teed up a second as Leicester threatened to buckle, too, but chose to shoot from a ridiculously tight angle instead of drilling across the face of goal.Extra time and quite likely penalties it was then…until Maguire proved otherwise. Thank goodness he did – 90 minutes was quite enough! More

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    ITV pundit Lee Dixon says Man Utd ace Mazraoui ‘should be fined a week’s wages’ after shocking blooper vs Leicester

    LEE DIXON called for Noussair Mazraoui to be docked a week’s wages after a bizarre howler rarely seen in professional football.The Manchester United defender fluffed a throw-in so badly in the dramatic 2-1 FA Cup comeback win over Leicester that every fan could see it was illegal.Noussair Mazraoui dollied an illegal throw-inJust look at the position of Mazraoui’s hands after his howlerIt came as the Red Devils battled for their lives as they trailed to a shock 42nd-minute opener from Bobby De Cordova-Reid.Fortunately for Mazraoui, sub Joshua Zirkzee flashed home an equaliser soon after the centre-back’s “throw faux-pas”.But it didn’t save the Moroccan from a savaging by ex-Arsenal hero Dixon.The former England right-back told ITV: “Absolute foul throw. should be fined a week’s wages for that.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”How can you not throw a ball in?”It appeared Mazraoui was lining up a routine throw down the right flank.But he suddenly slowed up and instead just dollied it a few yards forward from in front of his face.At that stage it summed up United’s plight.Most read in FA CupCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSAnd it followed the strange saga down the same flank of new signing Patrick Dorgu.Old Trafford chief Ruben Amorim stunned fans by starting the left wing-back down his weaker flank.Roy Keane breaks silence on Marcus Rashford’s shock transfer to Aston Villa and has MAJOR concernAnd Dorgu was hauled off at half-time for Alejandro Garnacho.Zirkzee later came on to help the Argentinian winger inspire the Red Devils into belated momentum.And on 68 minutes Garnacho raked in a left-wing cross that Caleb Okoli blocked, only for Zirkzee to sidefoot home.Mazraoui’s defensive partner Harry Maguire then headed a controversial 93rd-minute clincher against his old club. More

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    Roy Keane breaks silence on Marcus Rashford’s shock transfer to Aston Villa and has MAJOR concern

    MANCHESTER UNITED legend Roy Keane questioned Marcus Rashford’s shock decision to join Aston Villa.Rashford, 27, left United after two decades with the club as he fell out of favour soon after the arrival of new manager Ruben Amorim.Roy Keane questioned Marcus Rashford’s move to Aston Villa from Manchester UnitedCredit: ITVRashford joined Villa after falling out of favour at Man UtdCredit: GettySince December 12, Amorim left the star forward out of his squad for every game apart from one, in which he was an unused sub.The Portuguese head coach then suggested he was so unhappy with the way the England international trained he’d rather pick 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital instead.That led to Rashford joining Villa on loan during this past January transfer window.And Amorim admitted he could not get United’s fallen star to buy into his plan.Read More on Man UtdRashford is looking to regain his former goalscoring prowess at Villa Park.But Keane is not convinced Unai Emery’s side will turn the Man Utd academy graduate’s career around.The popular pundit questioned how Rashford will manage to get his “hunger” back at Villa after losing it at Old Trafford.Keane told ITV before United’s FA Cup clash with Leicester: “It is sad but has been on the cards the last year or two. Clearly they didn’t get on.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”The strange things is I thought he’d go abroad for a new adventure, but to go to Villa surprised me. “If he has lost the hunger at United, how is he going to get it at Aston Villa?”Aston Villa boss Unai Emery opens up on how Marcus Rashford has trained after shock loan transfer from Man Utd Rashford could make his debut with Villa on Sunday’s FA Cup clash against Tottenham in front of his new team’s home crowd. More

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    England legend Bobby Moore’s ‘gem of a find’ West Ham top set to sell for HUGE sum

    A FOOTIE shirt worn by England and Hammers legend Bobby Moore is set to sell for £18,000.The long-sleeved West Ham top was sold to fan Colin Fitzgerald, 12, for 2s 6d (£1.25 today), by the club’s groundsman in the mid-1960s.A football shirt worn by England and Hammers legend Bobby Moore is set to sell for £18,000Credit: GettyThe long-sleeved West Ham top was sold to fan Colin Fitzgerald, 12, for £1.25 in the mid-1960sThe online auction for the ‘gem of the find’ shirt is with Stacey’s, of Rayleigh, EssexBrother Peter, 69 is selling to help his son buy a house.Bobby won the World Cup in 1966. He died in 1993.The online auction is with Stacey’s, of Rayleigh, Essex.Expert Dave Davies said: “This is a gem of a find.”READ MORE ON FOOTBALL“I expect it to go for well over £10,000 and this is the first time I have seen a genuine Bobby Moore West Ham shirt.”But it could be much higher.“The theories over the whereabouts of his disappeared England shirt make it all the more valuable to a generation of fans who think Bobby is perhaps the greatest defender ever.“Other shirts worn by famous players like Eric Cantona, George Best and Gazza have gone for huge prices – so this could run into the tens of thousands.Most read in Football“If there is more than once dedicated collector bidding for it, its value could soar.”Dave Alexander, of Football Wanted – helping with the auction – said: “The authenticity of this shirt is second to none, and the price could go through the roof.”Bobby Moore’s family launching legal bid to get back his lost 1966 World Cup shirt worth £1mUnlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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    Roy Keane launches incredible blast at ‘shocking and boring’ Man Utd after woeful first half vs Leicester

    MANCHESTER UNITED legend Roy Keane ripped into his former club as they trailed Leicester City 1-0 at half-time.The Red Devils played host to ex-forward Ruud van Nistelrooy and his team at Old Trafford on Friday.Roy Keane ripped into Man Utd for their first-half performance vs LeicesterCredit: GettyBobby De Cordova-Reid fired the visitors into a 1-0 lead just before half-time, sparking a huge rant from Keane on ITV Sport.The ex-United star said: “It’s shocking, really, really poor. you start looking at this United team for all the stats… No shots on target, two shots on target against Crystal Palace.”They’re boring now. You feel like you should go into the Man Utd dressing room and remind them what the game is about – the goal is that end, you have to put the ball in the back of the net.”It’s as if they’re not even aware of it.Read More on Man Utd”Leicester haven’t been that great but they’ve been a bit sharper and they deserve to be in front.”He continued: “No where near good enough. There’s no energy, there’s no energy in the stadium.”The club legend then berated United for being “nowhere near” good enough.Keane said: “It sums up United – they’re giving it away cheaply, people are not staying with their runners. Good reaction from Leicester.Most read in FA CupCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”But I’m looking at it from United’s point of view and thinking, my goodness, is this what it’s come to? Nowhere near good enough.”United failed to register a single shot on target during the first half against Leicester.Ruben Amorim reveals reason he axed Ruud van Nistelrooy from Man Utd coaching staff January signing Patrick Dorgu also struggled to impress after being played out of position and was hauled off at half-time.Manchester United might have been listening in, as their second half performance was much improved.Joshua Zirkzee and a controversial Harry Maguire winner were enough to turn the tie, which ended 2-1. More