Manchester United will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Brighton at Wembley. After 120 minutes of goalless action, Victor Lindelof stepped up to confidently slam home the winning penalty, sealing a 7-6 victory for United. David de Gea made a number of key saves to keep Brighton at bay before the shoot-out, responding in style after a harrowing night against Sevilla three days ago.
The first-half saw Alexis Mac Allister test de Gea early on with a free kick from the edge of the box, drawing a decent save from the Spaniard. United laboured early on but found their feet in the contest as the half wore on, with Bruno Fernandes drilling his side’s best effort just wide of Robert Sanchez’s post and Christian Eriksen’s scuffed effort hacked away by the Brighton goalkeeper late in the half.
Brighton started the second in control, pinning United back with Julio Enciso denied another wonder strike with de Gea palming over his vicious effort from inside the box. United soaked up the pressure up until the hour mark before responding, with Antony finding space to operate down the right but failing to truly trouble the Brighton goalkeeper after finding his way through on goal. Danny Welbeck burst in at the back post unmarked only to head his effort over the bar. Jadon Sancho and Marcel Sabitzer, both introduced off the bench, almost combined to give United a breakthrough only for the Austrian to head his effort just wide.
Rashford was twice denied in extra time by Sanchez who himself produced a string of saves to keep the game goalless. With neither side finding the net, it went down to penalties with United holding their nerve to set up the first ever Manchester derby in an FA Cup final. United will return to Wembley on 3 June to try and deny City a potential treble and claim their second piece of silverware of the season having already secured the Carabao Cup.