After extra time and an infinite penalty shootout, Manchester United defeated the combative Brighton (0-0, 7-6) and became a finalist in the FA Cup, where they will face their neighbor citizen next June, Manchester City.
This is the first final in history between the two Manchester teams in the oldest club competition in the world, with 150 years of history. The duel will be a high-flying battle from the bench, where Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag will face each other, to the forwards, with Marcus Rashford and Erling Haaland as references.
In the last semifinal, Roberto De Zerbi's men showed their faces in the semifinals at Wembley and perhaps deserved more than the 'Red Devils', but their ineffectiveness up front, due to the lack of Evan Ferguson, injured, took its toll on them. Goalless in the match and extra time, due to good performances from David de Gea and Robert Sánchez, Brighton and United missed none of their first six shots, until Solly March sent his shot skyward and Victor Lindelof scored to put the ball into the net. United in the FA Cup final, where they will face Manchester City.
Brighton, after what may be the best season in its history, can leave Wembley with their heads held high, where they were slightly superior to a United who relied on De Gea and his defense to stop some shoddy 'Seagulls' for the lack of a 'nine' of guarantees. Without Ferguson, it was Danny Welbeck who took responsibility for scoring, and his game left a lot to be desired.
Also because De Gea made up for the performance against Sevilla in the Europa League. The Spanish goalkeeper had several interventions of merit, in a free kick by Mac Allister, in a hand down to Julio Enciso and in a shot from March.
In the other goal was the replica of Robert Sánchez, who had to appear less, but he did so when Brighton needed him most. In extra time he saved Marcus Rashford's 0-1 with a volley from point-blank range inside the box.
The goalkeepers, protagonists in the 120 minutes, however; they vanished on penalties. Up to twelve pitches without the intervention of either of the two goalkeepers. Only Robert came close to saving a shot from Marcel Sabitzer.
And despite the fact that they launched themselves into the area of the field where the Brighton fans were, they went to the 'Seagulls' whose legs trembled. March sent the launch of him into the clouds and began to cry. Lindelof, at the next shot and in the midst of sudden death, did not miss. United, who already won the League Cup against Newcastle United this season, will play their third game of the season at Wembley and will return to this venue on June 3 to face Manchester City, who eliminated Sheffield United with less trouble. .
The 'Red Devils' will compete in their 21st final for their thirteenth cup in what will be the first FA Cup final in history between the two Manchester teams. For City it will be the twelfth and they have won six.
0 - Brighton: Sanchez; Gross, Webster, Dunk, Estupiñan; Caicedo, Mac Allister, Enciso (Veltman, m.67); Mitoma, March and Welbeck (Undav, m.75).
0 - Manchester United: Wan-Bissaka (Malaysia, m.101), Shaw, Lindelof, Dalot; Casemiro, Eriksen (Fred, m.62), Fernandes (Weghorst, m.101); Antony (Sabitzer, m.91), Martial (Sancho, m.85) and Rashford.
Referee: Craig Pawson admonished Mitoma (m.90 2) for Brighton and Casemiro (m.36), Shaw (m.53), Lindelof (m.97) for Manchester United.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the FA Cup semifinal played at Wembley Stadium (London) before 81,445 spectators.
