Even before Coventry City threatened a comeback for the ages in an remarkable FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, one member of Mark Robins’ side had to pinch himself just to make sure that, no, he was not dreaming after all.
Going up against Manchester United at the national stadium, with a place in the final of the world’s oldest cup competition on the line. This was beyond even Milan van Ewijk’s wildest dreams when he was turning out for ADO Den Haag, Cambuur and Heerenveen in the Netherlands.
But not only did Van Ewijk turn one of his lifelong ambitions into a reality on Sunday, he also emerged with his reputation not only unscathed but massively inflated. Lining up first at right-wing back, the summer signing more than held his own against Marcus Rashford on an afternoon in which Man United’s under-fire forward did little to suggest that better days are around the corner.
Marcus Rashford and Manchester United survive a scare
“I kept Rashford under reasonable control,” Van Ewijk told Ziggo Sport, the England international coming the closest when he shifted across to the left and fizzed a shot which Brad Collins had to top over.
“But, of course, there are moments when he shows his qualities. Fortunately, I played a good match. I showed who I am today, so I can go home with my head held high.”
So can the rest of his Coventry team-mates, for that matter.
Manchester United have thrown away plenty of 2-0 leads this season. But, even by their standards, this was something pretty shambolic, Coventry turning a three-goal deficit into a last-gasp draw as Haji Wright completed a stirring comeback with a penalty deep into normal time.
Only the tightest of offsides, meanwhile, denied Victor Torp an extra time winner which, even in the long and storied history of FA Cup shocks, would surely have taken top spot on the podium.
“This was not normal. Just that you can play here against Manchester United, I did not expect that I would make it,” Van Ewijk adds. “This is something I am proud of. The match was difficult, because you are 3-0 behind, so then you give up hope a bit. Especially because United has enough qualities to move on.
“(But), at a certain point, the game starts to turn and then we get the chance.”
Erik ten Hag indebted to Andre Onana again
That ‘chance’ came when United somehow contrived to leave Ellis Sims – one of the most in-form strikers anywhere in England – in acres of space to fire past Andre Onana. A second quickly followed, with United eventually relying upon the whims of technology to keep Erik ten Hag from further humiliation.
“Then, you feel new energy. And, with every goal, you think that it is still possible,” says Coventry’s Amsterdam-born right-back. “I think it is human (nature) that you think that something can be achieved.
“I’m really proud of the team. It’s sick to be here and play, but to lose on penalties is really disappointing.”
“(For Torp’s would-be winner) you suddenly see that the VAR is going to check the goal. Then, you see how minimal offside it is. That really sucks.”
Onana was United’s hero in the shoot-out, denying Callum O’Hare and Ben Sheaf to bail out Casemiro and provide Rasmus Hojlund with the platform to set up a final re-match with Manchester City next month.