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Manchester United set up a first FA Cup final against Manchester City after beating Brighton in a tense penalty shootout at a rain-lashed Wembley Stadium.
In a match that finished goalless after extra time it fell to United defender Victor Lindelof to score the decisive spot-kick after Solly March sent his effort high over the bar.
The result means Erik ten Hag’s side have reached their second domestic final of the season, having won the Carabao Cup in February.
In a scrappy semi-final that fell short of expectations, both goalkeepers excelled with David de Gea making several fine saves and Brighton’s Robert Sanchez brilliantly turning away Marcus Rashford’s deflected effort in extra time.
March’s miss came after 12 successful penalties, before Lindelof stepped up to set up a mouth-watering all-Manchester encounter back at the national stadium on 3 June.
City beat Sheffield United 3-0 in the other semi-final on Saturday.
United battle through
United had to show reserves of stamina and resilience to come through against a fine Brighton side who went into this match as favourites in the eyes of many.
And in the aftermath of their embarrassing Europa League collapse against Sevilla, there was additional pressure on Ten Hag’s men.
It proved a stop-start affair with too many interruptions to allow any proper rhythm, although there were moments of excitement at either end before matters were settled from the spot.
United now have the opportunity to go toe-to-toe City in the final, an encounter both sides – and the city of Manchester – will relish.
It certainly adds extra sheen to this season for United, who are in a good position to secure a place in next season’s Champions League via the league and now have the chance to add a second piece of silverware against their arch-rivals at Wembley.
Heartbreak for Brighton
Brighton’s players did their best to console a tearful March after his penalty miss – a heartbreaking moment for a man who has been such an integral part of the Seagulls’ superb rise.
March’s name was chanted loudly amid the disappointment felt by Brighton’s fans – and the pain will be even more acute for Roberto de Zerbi’s side after coming into this match in superb form.
Brighton had chances to reach their first FA Cup Final since losing to United in 1983, forcing De Gea into saves from Alexis Mac Allister and Julio Enciso and seeing Danny Welbeck head a presentable opportunity over, but overall could not quite summon their usual momentum.
They did at least have the game’s outstanding player in the superb Moises Caicedo, but that will be no consolation after a cruel defeat.
There is still plenty for this exciting Brighton side to play for in the remainder of the season as they are in contention for a European place – but this will be a bitter pill to swallow with hopes and expectations so high.
Player of the match
de GeaDavid de Gea
Brighton & Hove Albion
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Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
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Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
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Squad number5Player nameDunk
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Squad number22Player nameMitoma
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Squad number1Player nameSánchez
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Squad number30Player nameEstupiñán
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Squad number13Player nameGroß
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Squad number20Player nameEnciso
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Squad number4Player nameWebster
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Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
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Squad number7Player nameMarch
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Squad number34Player nameVeltman
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Squad number21Player nameUndav
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Sánchez
- 13Groß
- 4Webster
- 5Dunk
- 30Estupiñán
- 25Caicedo
- 10Mac Allister
- 7March
- 20EncisoSubstituted forVeltmanat 67′minutes
- 22MitomaBooked at 90mins
- 18WelbeckSubstituted forUndavat 75′minutes
Substitutes
- 6Colwill
- 21Undav
- 23Steele
- 26Ayari
- 27Gilmour
- 29van Hecke
- 34Veltman
- 40Buonanotte
- 57Offiah
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-BissakaSubstituted forMalaciaat 101′minutes
- 2LindelöfBooked at 97mins
- 23ShawBooked at 53mins
- 20Dalot
- 18CasemiroBooked at 36mins
- 14EriksenSubstituted forFredat 62′minutes
- 21AntonySubstituted forSabitzerat 90′minutes
- 8Bruno FernandesSubstituted forWeghorstat 101′minutes
- 10Rashford
- 9MartialSubstituted forSanchoat 85′minutes
Substitutes
- 12Malacia
- 15Sabitzer
- 17Fred
- 25Sancho
- 27Weghorst
- 28Pellistri
- 31Butland
- 33Williams
- 36Elanga
- Referee:
- Craig Pawson
- Attendance:
- 81,445
Live Text
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Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0(6), Manchester United 0(7).
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Penalty Shootout ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0(6), Manchester United 0(7).
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(6), Manchester United 0(7). Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
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Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot is too high. Solly March should be disappointed.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(6), Manchester United 0(6). Wout Weghorst (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(6), Manchester United 0(5). Adam Webster (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(5), Manchester United 0(5). Marcel Sabitzer (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(5), Manchester United 0(4). Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(4), Manchester United 0(4). Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(4), Manchester United 0(3). Pervis Estupiñán (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(3), Manchester United 0(3). Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(3), Manchester United 0(2). Deniz Undav (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(2), Manchester United 0(2). Diogo Dalot (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(2), Manchester United 0(1). Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(1), Manchester United 0(1). Casemiro (Manchester United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Goal! Brighton and Hove Albion 0(1), Manchester United 0. Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
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Penalty Shootout begins Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Manchester United 0.
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Second Half Extra Time ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Manchester United 0.
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Foul by Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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