Brighton 0-0 Manchester United (6-7 on penalties) - United win dramatic FA Cup semi-final in shoot-out
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Updated 24/04/2023 at 07:24 GMT
After 120 minutes, it all came down to penalties. Brighton and Manchester United each squandered a host of good chances in normal and then extra-time, but neither could find the elusive breakthrough as the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium went to a shoot-out. In pouring rain, the drama was finally resolved when Brighton's Solly March missed, and it's United who will face Manchester City.
'We have to be perfect to beat Man City in the FA Cup final' - Ten Hag
Manchester United claimed a dramatic victory over Brighton in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley Stadium as they set up an FA Cup derby final with Man City.
There were 12 penalties converted in the longest shoot-out in FA Cup semi-final history before Solly March blazed his effort over the bar.
Victor Lindelof stepped up and fired his spot-kick into the roof of the net to send United through.
It was a dramatic conclusion to a match that did not produce any goals in normal or extra-time with penalties the only way to decide the semi-final contest.
Manchester City now await in the final at Wembley Stadium with the prized silverware on the line.
Roberto Sanchez and David De Gea were kept busy in the first half with a handful of chances falling for both teams.
Alexis Mac Allister’s early free-kick was kept out by De Gea at full stretch before Julio Enciso sent a chance just wide of the post.
Sanchez made a great save to deny Bruno Fernandes from the edge of the box and then a big opportunity fell to former United striker Danny Welbeck, who couldn’t sort his feet out in time to get a threatening shot away.
United started the second-half strongest as Fernandes dragged an effort wide before Christian Eriksen was denied by the feet of Sanchez.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side also had a few presentable chances to test De Gea’s goal and the Spaniard pulled off another brilliant save to deny a fierce Enciso shot.
The subsequent corner gave Welbeck a golden chance with a header at the back post but he sent it over the bar.
Brighton would have felt they should have been ahead 15 minutes into the second-half, but the introduction of Fred helped shift the momentum back into United’s favour.
With the game goalless after 90 minutes, extra-time was looming with the match finely poised.
Substitute Deniz Undav only needed a soft touch to give himself a one-on-one chance just minutes into the first period of extra-time, but the ball bounced off his right foot and out of his control.
Rashford's deflected shot off Adam Webster’s foot on the edge of the box then pinged towards goal and forced a sensational save out of Sanchez.
The sides though could not be separated after 120 minutes and the game went to penalties.
12 straight spot-kicks were successfully tucked away before March missed, handing the advantage to United.
And Lindelof made no mistake as he scored to send United into their 21st FA Cup final - a joint record shared with Arsenal.
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Manchester United players celebrates after the team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
The FA Cup final will take place on Saturday 3 June at Wembley Stadium.
TALKING POINT - BRIGHTON MISS CHANCE TO REACH SECOND-EVER FA CUP FINAL
Brighton were arguably the better team and probably had the clearer chances to win the game, despite Man Utd progressing in the end. Mitoma, Mac Allister, and March kept De Gea busy throughout the contest, but it was Welbeck’s chance with a back-post header that will keep Brighton’s fans up at night. Nonetheless, it was a performance they can be proud of, and they can take the positives into a crucial run-in that should see them claim some sort of European football next year.
As for United, what a first season it has turned out to be for Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman leads United into their second cup final having already won the League Cup and looks on course to deliver Champions League football at Old Trafford next season too. Now they have the chance to get one over on their neighbours for a domestic cup double.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - ROBERTO SANCHEZ (BRIGHTON)
This was a tough one to call as there wasn’t really one stand-out player, but a lot of very good performances across both teams. However, if Brighton had gone through, most would have considered Sanchez’s performance as something of a goalkeeping masterclass.
He was superb in between the sticks and pulled off that sensational save to deny Rashford in extra-time, as well as three or four other big stops during the game. He came close to a few of the penalties, too, and got a strong hand on Sabitzer’s effort which on another day might have won Brighton the game.
We have to mention De Gea too, who also delivered a glittering performance after a nightmare game in midweek.
PLAYER RATINGS
BRIGHTON: Sanchez 9, Webster 7, Dunk 7, Gross 7, Estupinan 6, Caicedo 8, Mac Allister 7, March 8, Mitoma 7, Enciso 6, Welbeck 6
Subs: Veltman 7, Undav 7
MAN UTD: De Gea 8, Wan-Bissaka 7, Lindelof 8, Shaw 7, Dalot 6, Casemiro 8, Eriksen 6, Antony 6, Fernandes 7, Rashford 7, Martial 6
Subs: Malacia 6, Sabitzer 6, Fred 6, Sancho 7, Weghorst 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
8’ - DE GEA DENIES MAC ALLISTER! It's a great effort from the Argentine as he sends his free-kick towards the top right corner from the left, but De Gea tips it behind.
14’ - FERNANDES' SHOT IS SAVED! What a chance for United! Fernandes unleashes a low shot from the edge of the box but Robert Sanchez gets down to his left to beat it away.
17’ - A BIG CHANCE FLASHES BEFORE WELBECK'S EYES! Brighton get straight down the other end and cause United problems. March slips the ball to Gross who has made an underlapping run and pulls back a cross for Welbeck, who can't get his feet sorted in time.
44’ - BIG CHANCE FOR UNITED! Casemiro plays a pass to Fernandes in the box and he takes the ball in his strike before getting a shot away, but drags his effort just wide!
45’+1 - ERIKSEN DENIED BY SANCHEZ'S FEET! Rashford drives into the box but Eriksen is free on the far side and the winger rolls a pass across to him, but the Dane scuffs his shot which is booted away on the line by Sanchez. Man United have ended the half brilliantly.
57’ - WHAT A SAVE FROM DE GEA! Mitoma’s shot is blocked by Dalot and the rebound falls to Enciso, who fires the ball towards goal but De Gea does brilliantly to tip it over the bar. The following corner is met by Welbeck at the back post but he sends it over the bar.
83’ - DE GEA HOLDS ON TO MARCH'S EFFORT! March shifts the ball onto his left foot and strikes low just outside the box, which De Gea stops before pouncing on the loose ball.
94’ - BIG, BIG CHANCE FOR DENIZ UNDAV! Caicedo slips the ball to the substitute who could be one-on-one with a good touch, but the ball bounces off his foot and the chance goes begging.
105’ - UNBELIEVABLE SAVE TO DENY RASHFORD! Rashford's strike on the edge of the box deflects off Webster and pops up but Sanchez pulls off an incredible stop to turn the ball behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.
KEY STAT
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