Just after the hour mark at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, Aaron Wan-Bissaka powerfully drove forward with the ball, forcing his way past two Brighton players, before evading the attention of Pervis Estupinan and playing a low pass into the box.
It was a display of skill, strength and determination, three qualities which have contributed to his unlikely renaissance at Manchester United this season after he was informed he could find a new club in the spring of last year.
Erik ten Hag did not have Wan-Bissaka in his plans but the player was needed throughout the festive period following the injury Diogo Dalot sustained at the World Cup. He's not looked back since and his performance against Brighton at Wembley suggests he's certainly not done at United yet.
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After being left out in the cold, Wan-Bissaka made his first appearance of the season against Liverpool in August and that four-minute cameo at the end of the game was the first time he'd set foot on the Old Trafford pitch in 177 days.
Wan-Bissaka had to wait another 121 days to play at Old Trafford, this time starting against Burnley in the League Cup in the first game following the Qatar World Cup, but his appearances in front of home crowds are now more frequent.
Dalot returned from the Middle East with an injury and that also coincided with a drop in form. Wan-Bissaka seized his chances when presented with them and that has seen a hard-fought battle between the pair to start emerge.
The player deserves immense credit for giving Ten Hag something he didn't have at the start of the season: a choice at right-back. Wan-Bissaka has laudably fought back into contention and he's shown steely resilience along the way.
It's certainly no secret Wan-Bissaka is not a talker, but ahead of the semi-final against Brighton at the weekend, he told The Telegraph it was always his intention to remain at the club, where he is happy.
He also discussed his desire to 'give his all for the team and the manager'. It can't be understated how pivotal Ten Hag has been in the transformation of Wan-Bissaka's fortunes and without him, perhaps his display against Brighton wouldn't have been possible.
After regressing against Sevilla on Thursday, albeit he was not the only player guilty of that, Wan-Bissaka was superb against Brighton and his performance was worthy of particular praise because he dealt with Kaoru Mitoma with minimal fuss.
Japan's Mitoma has been an outstanding signing for Brighton, whose shrewd approach in the transfer market ensures they are the envy of most clubs in the Premier League, but he found little joy against an improved Wan-Bissaka.
Wan-Bissaka has always been an expert defender of the ball and in one-on-one scenarios and he kept Mitoma quiet, which was no fluke, as just two months previously in the Carabao Cup final, he extinguished the fire Allan Saint-Maximin created.
Dalot, who had been booked for a foul on Wan-Bissaka, was hooked at half-time in that final against Newcastle and Wan-Bissaka's introduction to the game came as a relief for United fans, who roared on his every challenge.
Although there are still concerns about Wan-Bissaka's positioning and his lack of quality in the final third, the player fighting his way back into the team and delivering a string of impressive displays has highlighted his character.
Ten Hag had the policy of signing personalities in his first summer in charge and that strategy will continue. Wan-Bissaka has shown his personality over the last eight months and that explains why he's been able to return to the fold.
There are even whispers of a possible contract extension for Wan-Bissaka, whose deal expires in 2024. Whether he's improved enough to merit an extension is something for Ten Hag to decide and the Dutchman hasn't got much wrong yet.
Wan-Bissaka has gone from being told he could leave the club, to throwing his name in the hat for a new contract. Regardless of what happens next, he can hold his head high knowing he fought back when the chips were down.
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