VICTOR LINDELOF fired home the winning penalty as Manchester United ended their shoot-out curse to set up the first ever Mancunian derby Cup Final.
After 12 straight successful spot-kicks, Solly March ballooned his effort over the bar and United, who had lost seven of their previous eight penalty contests, gave themselves a chance of spiking City’s treble bid in the FA Cup on June 3.
After a goalless, largely dismal, match, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford – who had both missed in England’s Euros final defeat by Italy – were among United’s seven scorers from the spot.
United’s only shoot-out victory in the last 14 years had been against Rochdale in the League Cup and David de Gea had saved only two penalties in the last seven years.
But the Spaniard did not need to produce any heroics as United’s takers held their nerve, to make amends for Thursday’s shocking Europa League drubbing by Sevilla.
United now have the chance to complete a domestic cup double and secure a top-four Premier League finish in Erik ten Hag’s first season.
Yet they were scrappy and shoddy here for the first 90 minutes – the histrionics of their skipper Bruno Fernandes being their most eye-catching contribution.
It was one of the worst FA Cup semi-finals in living memory – with Brighton shading the 90 minutes and United on top in extra-time.
But as a contest between two of the Premier League’s top eight teams, it was a huge disappointment.
While he presumably doesn’t own a hairdryer, Ten Hag had given his players a double-barrelled blasting after their dismal Europa League exit against Sevilla.
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But it was Brighton who were playing most of the early football. Kaoru Mitouma cut inside and was floored by Antony on the edge of the United box with Alexis Mac Allister’s free-kick pushed way by a full-stretch De Gea.
United threatened once in the first half-hour when Christian Eriksen fed Bruno Fernandes whose shot was pushed away by Robert Sanchez.
But Brighton, without their excellent young centre-forward Evan Ferguson, were lacking a finisher.
When Solly March reached the line and cut back, Danny Welbeck failed to connect, then Mitoma and Pervis Estupinan went for the same shot and the ball cannoned to safety.
Then, whe Mitoma darted inside again, Enciso drilled just wide.
Mitoma, one of the sensations of the English season, was soon tracking back to rob Antony with an excellent sliding tackle.
United skipper Fernandes was having one of his ratbag afternoons – rolling around on the floor and squabbling with ref Craig Pawson.
When Casemiro was booked for a foul on Mac Allister, Fernandes gave Pawson a gobbing, then another when a Brighton player wasn’t booked for a foul soon after.
Then the Portuguese reacted as though he had taken a headshot from a sniper’s nest after a challenge from Estupinan and Pawson was having none of it.
Fernandes ought to have scored just before half-time when a poor Sanchez clearance was nicked by Casemiro, who fed his captain but the shot was screwed wide of the far post.
Suddenly, United enjoyed a purple patch. Anthony Martial, passed fit despite a knock in Seville, spotted Sanchez off his line but shot over from 25 yards.
Then a Rashford cut-back found Eriksen in space but Sanchez stuck out a foot to stop the Dane’s shot.
After being bossed for 40 minutes, United went in at the break with their tails up.
Yet it was De Gea who was bust again at the start of the second half.
Enciso let rip with a swerving shot which the United keeper pushed over, then Welbeck nodded over from the next corner.
March’s cross-shot was then tipped wide by De Gea and Ten Hag sent on Fred in place of Eriksen.
Antony’s shot was soon saved by Sanchez but the match was beginning to get ragged and filled with errors on either side.
With the game stretched and disjointed, March forced a sprawling save from De Gea but Jadon Sancho, just on as a sub for Martial, had a curling shot deflected wide.
So into extra-time we plodded, where an excellent Sancho cross was headed wide by Marcel Sabitzer.
After 100 minutes of extended sulking, Fernandes was finally replaced by big Wout Weghorst.
United were the livelier side now, and after a neat passing move, Rashford’s deflected shot was brilliantly saved by Sanchez.
Then Casemiro played a Hollywood crossfield to Rashford, who cut in but shot well wide.
Mitoma, clearly exhausted but still willing, went on a weaving run but caught De Gea in the shin as he attempted to shoot.
Shaw summed up the action with the final kick of the match with a free-kick from the centre circle which lolloped into the arms of Sanchez.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
