Considering they have never won this competition, Brighton looked more like the team that belonged in an FA Cup semi final in the first half. Alexis Mac Allister drew a fine save from the troubled David De Gea early on. Julio Enciso sent an outside-boot shot just wide shortly afterwards, as the Seagulls began to soar.
United hit back, with a Christian Eriksen pass finding Bruno Fernandes. The Portugal international had time for his shot, but Robert Sanchez did well to punch it away. At the other end, a Pascal Gross pull-back evaded Danny Welbeck before Kaoru Mitoma fired wide.
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Solly March went down and received treatment, shortly followed by Bruno Fernandes and finally Marcus Rashford. All three remained on the field for the remainder of the half, despite worried looks from their respective benches.
Casemiro picked up his customary booking as things got a little messy. It was a needless, frustrated scythe on Mac Allister that did the trick for the Brazilian. While Casemiro has clearly been a sensational purchase for United, you do sense his ill-disciplined lapses will cost United dearly one day.
United saved their finest moments for the end of a first half in which they’d been poor. Fernandes, their best player, burst into the box and fired wide from right-of-centre. Anthony Martial admonished him for not crossing, but an attacking force like Bruno was never going to in that position.
The half ended with Eriksen picking out Rashford wide on the left. The ascendant England man gave the ball back to the great Dane, but his shot was booted away by Sanchez. The change of gear was a first in a half where United had looked tepidly one-note.
David de Gea with a fine save to keep this Alexis Mac Allister free-kick out 🔵
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Brighton returned to the front foot at the onset of the second half. Moises Caicedo drew a yellow card from Luke Shaw with a fine, direct run. Mac Allister and Mitoma constantly buzzed around United’s deepening defence. The Red Devils were daring their opponents forward in order to launch counters, but Brighton were well-drilled enough to nullify the threat.
Much has been said about De Gea in the days since his disastrous display against Sevilla cost them a chance at a continental trophy. But the Spain international was back to his best when Ensico fired in a fizzing shot. The powerful drive was palmed over by De Gea in a spectacular display of his shot-stopping prowess. The resulting corner saw United old boy Welbeck head over as Brighton’s fans roared them through their best period so far.
March, having shaken off his previous ailment, drew another top save from De Gea with a near-post drive. Bowing to the pressure his team had been under since the second half dawned, Erik ten Hag introduced Fred in place of Eriksen.
Antony forced a good stop from Sanchez with a grounded effort, though he could have done with a firmer hit. Rashford then won a foul from Enciso, who needlessly bundled him over. Fernandes pounded his free kick into the wall and the rebound into the stand. At this juncture, Roberto De Zerbi removed Enciso and brought on Joel Veltman.
March had been a constant thorn in United’s side throughout and, with eight minutes to play, he almost drew blood. Only a fingertip save from De Gea could keep his low, rolling shot out. Gross followed up but the goalkeeper stayed strong, holding the ball and averting the danger.
With the deadlock still in place, this tense, nervy FA Cup semi final went to extra time. Ten Hag brought Marcel Sabitzer into the fray. The multi-functional midfield Swiss army knife came on in place of Antony.
Caicedo slid in a fine pass for Denis Undav. The substitute couldn’t make the most of his chance and the danger was snuffed out, but once again Brighton had started a new period confidently. At the other end of the pitch, Sancho crossed for Sabitzer who sent his header just wide.
Tyrell Malacia and Wout Weghorst replaced Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Fernandes. The removal of the latter raised eyebrows given Weghorst’s troubles in front of goal and Bruno’s skills from the penalty spot. But it was a player who started that came closest to putting United in front. A deflected Rashford short forced Sanchez into perhaps the best save of the day.
The second half of extra time featured another super piece of play from Caicedo. His ball to March set the Brighton number seven up for a shot. Fred did well to show him out wide, but he still forced De Gea into a fine stop. Meanwhile, Rashford tried to go it alone. The in-form forward cut inside but sliced his shot just wide of the mark.
The penalty shootout carried hallmarks of United’s unsuccessful Europa League final of 2021. The initial ten were split 5-5. The much maligned Weghorst followed up Adam Webster’s eleventh to draw it level. But after March blasted his spot kick high into the Wembley night, Victor Lindelof blasted his home. After 120 draining, desperate minutes, United were through and brave Brighton were out.
With Arsenal faltering in the league and City fit and firing in the Champions League, talk has turned to a possible treble. The blue half of Manchester revels in the idea of emulating the red half’s greatest achievement. Now, on 3rd June, United are in a position to try and stop their noisy neighbours from lifting a third of that vaunted prize. You might as well stick the stadium in the middle of Piccadilly Gardens this summer, because Wembley is about to go Manc.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
