FA Cup

JADON SANCHO and Marcus Rashford have been hailed for their bravery as they went some way to exorcising the ghosts of their Euros final nightmare.The Manchester United pair stepped up at Wembley on Sunday and both scored in a tense FA Cup semi-fnal penalty shootout as the Red Devils prevailed 7-6 over Brighton.
Jadon Sancho dispatched his penalty after a pep talk from Luke ShawCredit: Getty
Shaw stood next to Marcus Rashford during the Wembley showdown with BrightonCredit: Getty
But it took guts after both missed against Italy at the same venue on July 11, 2021 as England lost.
They were then subjected to disgraceful racist abuse on social media and have also had to suffer chants from rival fans about “letting their country down” in club games since.
United team-mate Luke Shaw believes a lot must have been playing on their minds as they prepared to take their kicks on Sunday and how he gave 23-year-old Sancho a pep talk just before his.
Shaw, 27, said: “I was next to Jadon. I said, ‘Whatever happens happens, just be confident. It’s part of football, things happen, these things happen.’
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“And I think maybe what was playing on their minds, are the things that come with it, the racism and stuff that they experienced last time.
“But, of course, for me, they showed amazing confidence to step up and because the last time they took one in a shootout it was, of course, here and the memories of that.
“But I’m really happy for both of them to put themselves forward and take really good penalties.”
Of course, Shaw had opened the scoring in the Euros final that night after just two minutes before Italy pegged the Three Lions back and forced penalties.
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Bukayo Saka also missed as Italy triumphed 3-2.
It was the second time in just a few months that Shaw and Rashford had suffered penalty heartache having gone down 11-10 in a marathon shootout against Villarreal in the Europa League final that May.
Shaw said: “For me, personally, I’ve been involved in two penalty shootouts and I’ve been on the losing side both times so to win one was a big relief for me.”
The defensive ace, who seamlessly switched from left-back to centre-back again on Sunday, believes booking a date in the FA Cup final against neighbours Manchester City has put a gloss back on their season.
That shock 3-0 defeat away to Sevilla as they exited the Europa League at the quarter-final stage last Thursday raised all the old questions about this team’s failings as doom and gloom swept in again.
Shaw said: “As players in the back of our mind that of course was there because, you know, at the start of this week, it was the biggest week of the season. There was no doubt about it.
“A massive game in the Europa League and then of course this. It will have defined our season. I think if we get knocked out of both of them, then you’re right about the season looking different.
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“I think a lot of people thought we would lose. But inside the dressing room we had the confidence.”
It was a very different Erik ten Hag who faced the media on Sunday to the one that emerged from the rubble of the drubbing in Seville.
The manager was furious last Thursday saying he did not recognise the team that wilted in the amazing atmosphere at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Shaw said: “He said, ‘That’s a team out there today,’ and he wasn’t sure who or what was there on Thursday night but obviously that wasn’t acceptable.
“It doesn’t put things right but it puts us in a good place to finish the season well because Champions League is a must for us and a Manchester derby now in the FA Cup final is an amazing game to be involved in.”
United stand fourth in the league on goal difference behind Newcastle but with a game in hand.
They travel to fifth-placed Spurs on Thursday who are in disarray after going down 6-1 at St James’ Park, trailing 5-0 after 21 minutes.
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Ten Hag’s team were in a similar state last Thursday.
Now they’ve bounced back again as they reset their sights on a cup double and third place.
Rashford put his penalty in the top corner past Robert SanchezCredit: Getty
Sancho and Shaw were all smiles with Bruno Fernandes after booking their place in the finalCredit: Getty
Sancho and Rashford both missed in the Euros final in 2021Credit: Reuters More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans were impressed by Casemiro’s leadership after he volunteered to take the first penalty against Brighton.The Red Devils beat Roberto De Zerbi’s side 7-6 in the shoot-out after the match ended goalless after extra-time.
Casemiro was spotted volunteering to take the first penalty
He made no mistake as he cooly slotted in from the spotCredit: AP
Casemiro put himself forward to take the first spot-kick and made no mistake as he slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
United scored every penalty with Solly March’s sudden death miss enough to send them through.
But fans were still left very impressed by Casemiro after he bravely stepped up first.
Video footage shows the Brazilian putting up his hand as Erik ten Hag discussed the United penalty order.
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One fan reacted by saying: “A true leader!”
Another added: “Definition of a leader.”
A third said: “That’s pure leadership.”
And another commented: “The best players lead by example. Would have been a great motivation for him to have scored first, ease the nerves.”
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After converting from 12 yards Casemiro got fans talking for another reason as he screamed advice to David De Gea.
Casemiro, 31, waved his arms manically and seemed to be telling his goalkeeper to do likewise in an attempt to distract the Brighton penalty takers. More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans have been left in disbelief at their FA Cup penalty shootout win over Brighton.That’s after spotting David De Gea “reading his notes” and still not making one single save.
Man Utd fans can’t believe they beat Brighton on penalties as David De Gea didn’t make a saveCredit: AFP
The Spanish keeper read notes throughout the shootout but was saved by Solly March’s missed effortCredit: Jamie McPhilimey
The Red Devils booked their place in June’s Wembley final against rivals Man City with a tight win over Brighton on Sunday.
With the scores tied at 0-0 following 120 breathless minutes, both sides lined up for spot-kicks at the Brighton end.
The two teams each slotted home their first six penalties.
But disaster struck for the Seagulls when Solly March blazed his effort over the bar.
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And it fell to Victor Lindelof to slot home the winning penalty to set up a final date against City.
The shootout was marked by neither goalkeeper making a save.
Robert Sanchez came close on several occasions, even getting his hand to one effort.
But De Gea seemed to dive the wrong way almost every time.
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The Spaniard constantly paused between efforts as he appeared to read secret notes hidden in his towel.
And United fans couldn’t believe they made it through the shootout against Brighton, especially considering De Gea’s previous records.
Most notable is the 2021 Europa League final defeat to Villarreal where he conceded 11 penalties before missing United’s crucial one himself.
One fan said: “De Gea just watching these penalties like us at home.”
Another declared: “So bad from March, all you have to do against De Gea is put it on target, man is a hologram.”
One noted: “De Gea took notes to a penalty shootout and dived the wrong way for almost all of them.”
Another added: “F*****g hell, we actually won a shootout and De Gea didn’t even need to save one.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED fans loved Wout Weghorst’s reaction after they beat Brighton on penalties in the FA Cup semi-final.Victor Lindelof was an unlikely hero as he converted the decisive spot-kick after Solly March blazed over from 12 yards.

Wout Weghorst sprinted to the Manchester United fans after Lindelof scored the winning penaltyCredit: AFP
Fans loved the striker’s display of passionCredit: AFP
After Lindelof netted his penalty most of his team-mates ran towards the Swede to celebrate.
But Weghorst defied tradition and instead turned around and sprinted towards the United fans.
The forward pumped his fists before performing a knee slide, with the supporters behind the goal loving every second.
Fans watching at home also enjoyed Weghorst’s passion and praised the Dutchman for his show.
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One said: “I really like his mentality. Such a passionate player.”
Another added: “Love his passion man 🔥”
A third said: “Love how passionate he is whenever we get to win😍”
And another commented: “Let me just say that all our attackers need this man’s passion. Especially Martial.”
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Weghorst played a role in United’s victory as he scored their penultimate penalty during sudden death.
And he may have put a jinx on March as he kissed the ball before handing it to the Brighton star.
The winger was left in tears after his miss as the Seagulls missed out on the chance to reach their first final since 1983. More

MANCHESTER UNITED supporters spotted David De Gea “doing an Emi Martinez” seconds before Brighton’s Solly March missed the crucial penalty in the FA Cup semi-final.After a tense 120 minutes, the clash headed into a penalty shoot-out following the Wembley stalemate.
David De Gea was spotted scuffing the penalty spot before Solly March’s missCredit: TWITTER
The Brighton star blazed his kick high over the crossbarCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun

Victor Lindelof was the hero as he sealed a 7-6 shoot-out victory.
Alexis Mac Allister scored first for Brighton, Pascal Gross followed suit, Deniz Undav notched the third, Pervis Estupinan calmly slotted the fourth and captain Lewis Dunk made it five from five.
Casemiro rolled home United’s opening kick, Diogo Dalot repeated the trick, Jadon Sancho rifled in the third, Rashford scored the fourth and Marcel Sabitzer completed a perfect five for United to send it to sudden death.
Adam Webster was first up for Brighton and sent De Gea the wrong way and Wout Weghorst did the same for Erik ten Hag’s men.
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Solly March then skied the seventh for Brighton – leaving Victor Lindelof to step forward and book United’s place at Wembley in the final against Man City.
However, eagle-eyed fans had initially spotted United striker Wout Weghorst kissing the ball after scoring as he handed it March before the Brighton star’s spot-kick.
Now footage has emerged of De Gea engaging in some dark arts of his own as he scuffed the penalty spot while his rival was making his way forward.
And fans were quick to compare his antics with Argentina World Cup winner Martinez’s before they beat France in the final back in December.
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One tweeted: “De Gea stepping on the penalty spot xD Love the sh**housery.”
Another wrote: “Werghost distracted the ref with that kiss so De Gea can scuff the penalty spot, this is 8D chess.”
Another said: “That penalty spot move by De Gea.”
As a fellow supporter commented: “Did you see what De Gea and Weghorst did there?
“1. Weghorst handed the ball to March instead of his own GK.
“2. De Gea kicked the penalty spot and intimidated March.
“And he missed – this is a tactic employed by the best penalty savers (Emi Martinez).”
United will now face City at Wembley in the final on June 3. More

SOLLY MARCH was inconsolable after missing a crucial penalty in a shoot-out defeat to Man Utd in the FA Cup semi-final.Brighton and the Red Devils played out a 0-0 draw after extra time at Wembley.
Solly March is inconsolable after missing Brighton’s crucial penalty
Unlucky March fired his penalty over the bar in the FA Cup semi-finalCredit: AP
March was visibly distraught after failing to score with his spot-kickCredit: AP
Erik ten Hag’s side had David De Gea to thank – who pulled off a number of good saves to keep the Seagulls at bay.
But he wasn’t called upon when it came to penalties.
Both sides looked clinical when it came to spot-kicks – netting six a piece before March came to the fore.
However, the winger unfortunately miscued his effort over De Gea’s crossbar.
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Sweden defender Victor Lindelof stepped up to calmly sidefoot home as his team-mates rushed towards him to celebrate.
March, though, was understandably distraught.
When the cameras panned to him, he was in tears as team-mates consoled him.
Manager Roberto De Zerbi was seen with his arm around his player at the end of the game – offering words of encouragement.
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The reaction on social media was also supportive of the unlucky March.
One fan wrote: “Solly March still Player of the Season by the way.”
Another shared: “Feel bad for Solly March. Penalty shootouts are the worst, but at least you prefer them be won on a stopped shot, not a shot shanked high or wide.
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“But congrats to Man Utd. Now maybe they can go and finish the job against Pip & Co. That’s what we plan to do.”
A third commiserated: “Heartbreaking for Brighton and Solly March, the only one of 14 penalty takers to miss, United go through 7-6 in the shoot-out.
“The camp will rally around the long-serving winger. He’s been fabulous this season.” More