Manchester United came from behind to beat Liverpool 4-3 with a last-gasp Amad Diallo goal in extra time sealing the Red Devils’ passage into the semi-finals.
This was the magic of the FA Cup. It will go down as one of the all-time great FA Cup ties. And if you ever needed reminding of what the FA Cup means, then it was all here at Old Trafford.
What a story to finish off a brilliant FA Cup quarter final weekend as Manchester United supersub Amad Diallo scored the 121st minute winner – and then got sent off for a second yellow card for his celebration.
It was the loudest anyone could remember Old Trafford and, while the old place is falling down, it can still generate an incredible noise.
By the end, it felt like it had turned into a game of last goal wins. This was the United of old because they showed heart, courage and spirit until the very end.
Liverpool saw one trophy disappear from their dream of winning the quadruple and Jurgen Klopp must be kicking himself because they had so many chances to win it.
The 8,000 Liverpool fans in the away end were loud and proud until the end but they should have killed the game off in 90 minutes. They led in extra time. And then looked shell-shocked after throwing it away.
Maybe the turning point was Mo Salah being substituted late on in normal time as that almost handed the initiative to a United side who looked dead and buried.
But Erik ten Hag looked on as his players became never-say-does heroes with a victory which might just have saved the United manager’s job.
What a game. No-one inside Old Trafford will forget they were here. Maybe cup ties going to penalties are not so bad after all because at least it means both teams have to really go for it.
It deserves to be remembered as being every bit as brilliant as the 1999 FA Cup semi final replay at Villa Park when United beat Arsenal in extra time. That was an FA Cup classic and this one probably beats it for sheer drama.
The game started at 100 miles an hour – and never slowed down. United were ahead after ten minutes. Alejandro Garnacho’s shot was saved by Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher but Scott McTominay scored from the rebound.
Liverpool levelled after 44 minutes. Jarell Quansah, 21, drove forward with all the maturity of a veteran. Darwin Nunez laid it off for Alexis Mac Allister whose shot deflected in off Kobbie Mainoo.
The visitors were ahead in first half injury time. Joe Gomez challenged Bruno Fernandes, Nunez’s shot was saved by Andre Onana and then Salah put in the rebound.
Liverpool had so many chances to win it in the second half but they wasted counter attacks and Onana defied them with some super saves.
Just when all hope looked lost, United substitute Antony levelled after 87 minutes with his first goal at Old Trafford in a year as he turned and fired into the far corner.
Even before extra time, Harvey Elliott still had time to hit the post and Marcus Rashford should have won it in the 94th minute.
Elliott thought he had won it in extra time when he put Liverpool back in front after 105 minutes as his shot was deflected in off Christian Eriksen.
But United levelled again after 112 minutes. Nunez gave the ball away and McTominay played in Rashford who fired into the bottom corner.
