Brighton 0-0 Manchester United (6-7 on pens): Victor Lindelof wins tie
Brighton 0-0 Manchester United (6-7 on pens): Victor Lindelof scores decisive spot-kick in the shoot-out after Solly March blazes his penalty over the bar to set up a FA Cup final with Manchester City
- Man United have won the FA Cup semi-final on penalties at Wembley as Victor Lindelof scored the winner
- Erik ten Hag’s side will meet Manchester City in the final where a derby encounter will decide the FA Cup title
- Brighton’s Solly March missed the decisive penalty that handed United the chance to win the tense clash
Manchester United came out on top in penalties to beat Brighton and qualify for the FA Cup final where they will face Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Swedish defender Victor Lindelof scored the winning spot-kick after Brighton’s Solly March previously skied his penalty over the bar.
A goalless first-half saw both sides threaten but neither managed to find the crucial touch needed to steer the ball into the back of the net.
Bruno Fernandes – back available after serving a suspension in their midweek Europa League exit in Seville – was at the heart of every piece of positive play from United.
The Portuguese playmaker had his own supporters worried when he went down after twisting his ankle, he then had Brighton fans unnerved as his shot on the stroke of half-time dragged just wide.
Brighton weren’t overwhelmed by the occasion, in fact they looked to thrive under the Wembley spotlight and looked largely the more impressive side in the first 45 minutes.
Victor Lindelof scored the winning penalty at Wembley to send Manchester United into the FA Cup final where they face Man City
Manchester United players burst from the halfway line to celebrate as Lindelof’s penalty finds the back of the net to win the game
Solly March (blue white top) blasted his penalty over the bar to hand United advantage in the penalty shoot-out
Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi (left) rallied round a dejected March (right) at the end of the match as Brighton exited the FA Cup
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag (middle) remained calm at full-time as his side booked their place in the Cup final
They first went close as Alexis Mac Allister’s free-kick stung the palms of David de Gea, Julio Enciso then went close with his own effort not long after.
The 19-year-old midfielder opened the second-half to force another save from United’s Spaniard, this time seeing his powerful effort on the edge of the box saved acrobatically.
United counter-punched and should have been ahead after having plenty of chances of their own, Brazilian winger Antony appeared to be on the end of every move but let his side down by either poor finishing or decision-making when it mattered most.
Erik ten Hag and Roberto de Zerbi played out a great tactical battle in the dugout and as their players matched their ambition on the pitch, but neither could land the finishing blow.
United looked the more comfortable of the two sides as the game approaches extra-time, despite Brighton peppering their box with crosses in the later stages of normal time.
There was no splitting the two teams and extra time afforded someone the chance to make themselves a hero at the home of English football.
Brighton striker Deniz Undav had that chance as he found himself in acres of space inside the United box. His touch let him down when it mattered most and Diogo Dalot was in the right place to clear.
End-to-end action followed throughout extra time. Brighton worked themselves into some great positions as their attackers outnumbered United’s defence, but passing inaccuracy allowed the Red Devils off the hook.
Robert de Zerbi (left) and Erik ten Hag (right) played out an interesting tactical battle on the touchline but neither could fuide their side to a goal in open-play
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea (yellow top) produced an outstanding diving save to deny Brighton in the second-half
Ten Hag (right) had got a response from his United players after their underwhelming midweek performance in Seville
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea (yellow top) produced an outstanding diving save to deny Brighton in the second-half
Marcus Rashford had barely been given a sniff all game but nearly popped up with the winner at the end of the first-period of extra time as his reactive shot was brilliantly denied by Robert Sanchez.
The United star then blasted wide with less than 10 minutes to go as he brought down Casemiro’s diagonal ball but couldn’t find the required composure as he cut inside.
Mitoma then had a chance to win it but let the ball escape him as he clattered into De Gea and a United free-kick was awarded.
And so we were left with penalties. A chance in the final decided by a shootout from 12-yards. A record-breaking 14 spot-kicks followed but United eventually came out on top to set-up a first-ever Manchester derby FA Cup final.
MATCH FACTS
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka (Malacia 101), Lindelof, Shaw, Dalot, Casemiro, Eriksen (Fred 62), Fernandes (Weghorst 101), Antony (Sabitzer 90), Rashford, Martial (Sancho 85)
Substitutes not used: Pellistri, Butland, Williams, Elanga
Manager: Erik ten Hag
Scorers: Penalties: Casemiro, Dalot, Sancho, Rashford, Sabitzer, Weghorst, Lindelof
Booked: Casemiro, Shaw, Lindelof
BRIGHTON (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Grob, Webster, Dunk, Estupinan, Caicedo, Mac Allister, March, Enciso (Veltman 67), Mitoma, Welbeck (Undav 75)
Substitues not used: Colwill, Steele, Ayari, Gilmour, Paul van Hecke, Buonanotte, Offiah
Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
Scorers: Penalties: Mac Allister, Grob, Undav, Estupinan, Dunk, Webster
Booked: Mitoma
Referee: Craig Pawson
Full match report to follow.
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