Andre Onana checked with the referee before 'doing a Martinez' as gamesmanship saves Man Utd

Andre Onana made a final check with the referee about receiving a second yellow card in a penalty shootout – and avoiding suspension for the FA Cup final – before his act of gamesmanship helped Manchester United get out of jail at Wembley.

The United goalkeeper had been booked for time-wasting during the 3-3 draw at Wembley and knew it would be wiped away if the tie went to spot-kicks, which was also the scenario last week for Emiliano Martínez during Aston Villa’s shootout win in Lille.

However, unlike Martínez in the Europa Conference League, the Football Association has confirmed that Onana will not be suspended for next month’s final against Manchester City. Onana had checked this ruling before the shootout with referee Robert Jones beforehand.

Onana’s planning turned out to be a decisive moment in one of the Cup’s most thrilling semi-finals. He knew he could afford a booking as he walked up to the edge of the penalty area to unnerve Ben Sheaf as he walked up to take his penalty.

Jones ordered him back to his goal-line but he kept yelling at Sheaf until the Coventry captain was almost at the penalty spot. Sheaf failed to hit the target with his penalty, allowing Rasmus Hojlund to score the penalty to secure a place in the final.