Manchester United 0, Brighton 0 (AET, Man Utd win 7-6 on penalties in FA Cup Semi Final at Wembley)
Victor Lindelof scored the sudden death penalty that sent Manchester United through to the final of the FA Cup at the expense of Brighton.
The Swede was a huge part of the United defence that kept the Seagulls at bay and he scored the winning spot kick after Solly March had blazed his over the bar.
And for the first time in the history of the FA Cup there will be a Manchester Derby in the FA Cup final as the Reds went through to their 21st FA Cup final – level with Arsenal – the day after Manchester City beat Sheffield United in the other semi-final.
The Carabao Cup holders reached the final of both domestic cup competitions in the same season for a third time – adding to occasions in 1982/83 and 1993/94.
United made two changes to the side that lost at Sevilla.
Harry Maguire had a poor game in Spain but was suspended for this game following a second yellow in the FA Cp quarter final at Old Trafford against Fulham.
With first choice defenders Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez injured Luke Shaw was drafted in to replace in the captain while Marcel Sabitzer was replaced by Bruno Fernandes who was suspended for Thursday’s calamity.
United responded well after defeat in Spain on Thursday with a huge defensive performance to keep Brighton at bay with saves from David De Gea to keep United in the game.
The Seagulls had arrived with a good scoring record at hand but they could not reproduce their Premier League form at Wembley and toothless Manchester United were similarly ineffective at applying the finish.
Brighton will look back on a golden headed chance for Danny Welbeck who headed over the bar while their goalkeeper Robert Sanchez produced a great save to deny Marcus Rashford in Extra Time.
Both sides were evenly matched and goalless after 120 minutes of play at Wembley meaning the inevitable lottery of penalties loomed large.
The heavens opened as penalties started, leaving open the potential for a dangerous slip.
And for the first time a Semi Final penalty shootout in the FA Cup went to sudden death as all five penalties each were scored.
Alexis Mac Allister, Pascal Gross, Deniz Undav, Pervis Estupinan, Lewis Dunk all scored their penalties for Brighton.
Casemiro, Diogo Dalot, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Marcel Sabitzer also put away their penalties for United although Sanchez got a hand to Sabitzer’s spot kick.
And in sudden death Adam Webster scored his spot kick before Wout Weghorst stepped up and levelled matters again for the sixth round.
Solly March was the thirteenth player to take a spot kick but blazed over the bar before Victor Lindelof sent the Reds through to the FA Cup final.
Speaking to the BBC, Lindelof said: “It felt great, a great relief to be in the final
“I have confidence in myself and knew which penalty I wanted to take.”
And De Gea added:
“It’s still a long way till the final but it will be a big game against one of the best teams in the world. I’m sure we can beat them but we must finish in the top four first.