23 April 2023 , 19:11
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Somehow they just seem to find a way.
This time it was after a nerve-tingling penalty shoot-out with Victor Lindelof the most unlikely hero to fire Manchester United into the final. Now they have set up a first ever Manchester derby in the FA Cup final on Saturday, June 3, and even if City might seem red hot favourites, only a fool would write off United.
Erik ten Hag has embraced United’s winning DNA, they have already won the League Cup and could end up completing a domestic cup double in the manager’s first season at Old Trafford.
It also has the extra incentive of stopping a potential Manchester City treble with Pep Guardiola’s men still on course for the Premier League title and Champions League final.
You had to feel sorry for Brighton and, in particular, Solly March who was the poor soul who missed the only penalty in the shoot-out as he skied over. Brighton were terrific as they dominated possession, produced some excellent individual performances and yet just could not take their chances.
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Time and again, Brighton tried to dribble the ball into the net to score the perfect goal when someone just needed to pull the trigger and shoot. And you do that against your peril against United because, down the years, this club is just a winning machine.
You have to give huge credit to United because they lost in Seville on Thursday night, crashed out of the Europa League and have injuries mounting up.
But, despite being patched-up, United just ground it out, relying on David de Gea producing a wonder save from Julio Enciso and then somehow defying their weary legs through extra time to force a shoot-out.
Erik ten Hag will now have the chance of winning a domestic cup double in his first season in chargeThen it just felt as if there was an air of inevitability about United triumphing because they have won the FA Cup 12 times, a feat only bettered by 14 time winners Arsenal, and an all Manchester final just seemed written in the stars.
Brighton have been the feel good story of this season. Roberto De Zerbi has won so many admirers for their style of play and you can see why with quality players like Moises Caicedo and Kaoru Mitoma while Alexis Mac Allister was also excellent in midfield.
But this was a war of attrition rather than a free-flowing game of chances. That ultimately suited United as in the first half they were second best but still came closest with shots from Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen.
Brighton pinned United back for a large chunk of the second half. De Gea made his super save from Enciso while Danny Welbeck headed from a gilt edged chance at the back post.
Man United outlasted Brighton in a marathon penalty shootout at WembleyMarcus Rashford saw his deflected shot brilliantly saved by Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez in extra time. Rashford fired wide with another effort while Mitoma and March both tried to dribble it into the net.
The penalties were inevitable. United must have had nerves as de Gea is hardly renowned for stopping them and their recent record in shoot-outs has been poor.
But Rashford and Jason Sancho - who both missed penalties at Wembley in England’s Euros final - were among the United scorers with Casemiro, Diogo Dalot, Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst also on target. Sanchez only came close to stopping Sabitzer’s effort.
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Mac Allister, Pascal Gross, Deniz Undav, Pervis Estupinan, Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster were all on target as it went to 6-6 in sudden death.
March was the first to crack as he blazed over the bar. Lindelof then stepped up to score as United celebrated wildly while the Brighton players were left consoling March and rueing what might have been.