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MANCHESTER UNITED WILL face arch-rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final after beating Brighton 7-6 on penalties in Sunday’s semi-final.
Erik ten Hag’s side played out a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Brighton that went to extra-time at Wembley.
Solly March was the only Brighton player to miss in the shoot-out, with Victor Lindelof netting United’s winner from the spot.
It will be United’s first FA Cup final appearance since losing to Chelsea in the 2018 showpiece.
United will take on City, who beat Sheffield United 3-0 in Saturday’s other semi-final, in the final on 3 June.
Neither side showing the cutting edge required to break the deadlock here.
Ten Hag made three changes from his team’s Europa League horror show in Sevilla in midweek.
Luke Shaw came in at centre-back for the suspended Harry Maguire, with Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes replacing Jadon Sancho and Marcel Sabitzer.
United have already won League Cup this season to end a six-year trophy drought and are in a strong position to finish in the top four of the Premier League.
But their confidence took a battering in Thursday’s 3-0 defeat in Spain, which meant a 5-2 defeat on aggregate in the Europa League quarter-finals.
Brighton, who lost the FA Cup final replay to United 40 years ago, had won the past two league fixtures between the sides and came to Wembley on a high after beating Chelsea last week.
The south-coast club settled first and had an early sight of goal when Kaoru Mitoma was brought down clumsily on the edge of the box by Antony in the sixth minute.
Argentine World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister hit a fine curling effort that David De Gea did well to keep out before Julio Enciso flashed a shot wide.
Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton were dominating possession, with United apparently happy to sit back and try to exploit the pace of Rashford and Antony.
Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez beat out a Bruno Fernandes effort in United’s first meaningful effort.
The massed ranks of Brighton fans were keen to play on the nerves of De Gea whenever the ball landed at his feet following a nightmare game for the Spaniard in Seville.
Paraguay international Enciso shot narrowly wide just after the half hour mark after fine work down the left by the impressive Mitoma.
United, for long periods scrappy, produced a flurry of chances shortly before half-time.
First Fernandes flashed narrowly wide when the unmarked Anthony Martial was begging for the ball in the middle of the box before Martial mishit an attempted chip well over the bar.
Then Rashford picked out Christian Eriksen, whose shot was kicked away by Sanchez.
Brighton were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the second half. Enciso forced De Gea into a smart save before former United forward Danny Welbeck headed over from the resulting corner.
United then carved out a golden chance to take the lead when Rashford was brought down by Enciso in the 64th minute but Fernandes failed to get the ball over the wall.
United were now on top but could not force a breakthrough and the tension ratcheted up as the game entered the last 10 minutes of normal time.
March forced a fine save from De Gea as Brighton poured forward again, seeking a late winner and then he headed over from a corner.
But neither side could break the deadlock and referee Craig Pawson blew for extra-time.
The game became stretched, with half-chances at both ends before Rashford’s deflected shot was turned away by Sanchez as the clock ticked down to the end of the first period of extra time.
By now United had made five changes.
Top-scorer Rashford, who struggled to hit top gear, flashed wide with 10 minutes to go before De Gea cleared following a goalmouth scramble at the other end.
A high-quality shootout took place in front of the massed ranks of the Brighton fans but ultimately the Red Devils held their nerve.
Written by AFP and posted on the42.ie
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Sad news…so young
Condolences to family and friends
RIP. It’s been a sad week for a lot of families.
29 deaths so far this year on the roads . It shows why the guards are stepping up there checks. Please everyone check your tyres brakes , don’t speed and never drive under the influence. This accident may have nothing to do with any of them things but some deaths this year have . Let’s try and stop the toll over reaching last years figure
@Derrick Ó Súilleabháin: what Guards! I could’ve drove for past yer outta me box… not one check point or Garda seen….
@Anthony Christoper Mc Garth: you are lucky so cause where I live there are constantly checking
@Margaret Deacon: Good so they should be!
@Anthony Christoper Mc Garth: I mean Rest of is pay….
@Anthony Christoper Mc Garth: you obviously know who was driving the car the way you are talking..?
@Margaret Deacon: Actually Margaret you’re lucky. You and your family are safer if people drive responsibly, and a garda presence helps to enforce that.
RIP
Condolences to his family, a lot of road deaths this week…
@ Anthony Christoper
Bit early for the sauce .
@Pl Ster: I don’t drink!
If people obeyed the rules of the road and were responsible road deaths would be reduced, speed checks and garda check points should not be the reason you slow down, its the law just my point of view
@Anne Kerins: it’s Ireland people
Obey Fckn nothing here…. look back then when the government asked couple to have 2 children n what happened went out n went like Fckn Rabbits! Now the people
Are out in streets now No one listens over here it’s all me me me me me me me
This keeps freezing on me… what I mean is Ireland couldn’t direct a seagull to the sea….
@Anthony Christoper Mc Garth: Have you been drinking by any chance….?
@Pete Blake: No why have you?
@Anthony Christoper Mc Garth: maybe post nonsense on a different article. This is about a poor girls loss of life.hardly an appropriate time for messing
@Trish Ryan: F OFF!
@Anthony Christoper Mc Garth: ill give you an appropriate time trish go make yer scones n keep watching the BS News! That you pay yer TV licence for….
@Trish Ryan: Ridden to her, One less in Ireland.
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