It’s Man United Vs Man City In FA Cup Final

• As United beat Brighton 7-6 on penalties
• Guardiola’s City thrash Sheffield United 3-0

Manchester United beat an impressive Brighton & Hove Albion 7-6 in a penalty shootout to confirm their place in this year’s English FA Cup final.

Importantly, United’s victory made history as for the first time in FA Cup there will be a Manchester derby in the final with the Red Devils set to face Manchester City at Wembley on June 3, 2023.

Neither side could break the deadlock during the 90 minutes or the half an hour of extra time and Solly March was the unlucky man who sent his penalty over the crossbar.

The match could have gone either way, but one has to admire United’s resilience throughout the encounter. Embarrassed on Thursday by Sevilla in the Europa League and without three centre-backs due to injury and suspension, Erik ten Hag’s men still managed to keep a clean sheet against one of the best-attacking teams in Europe right now.

On the night, Brighton gave everything and dominated possession for most of the game, they will reflect on certain moments, particularly Danny Welbeck’s header at 0-0 and Keeper Sanchez almost saving Sabitzer’s penalty at 5-4. The Seagulls’ goal-tender got a decent piece of it, leading with his left hand as he dived to his right, but Sabitzer hit it with just enough height and power to get it through.

In defeat, one has to feel for Brighton, especially Solly March, whose greatest season will now have an asterisk against it. No thanks for smashing his penalty over the bar! It was an awful moment for a player having the season of his life.

David de Gea made two or three terrific saves (even if he again didn’t stop any penalties), while Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof were quietly excellent. Interestingly, Lindelof’s day ended perfectly when he scored an excellent and winning penalty by sending Sanchez the wrong way after March blew his spot-kick.

By this victory, United matched Arsenal’s record of reaching 21 FA Cup finals, and they will now be aiming to win their second domestic cup under Erik ten Hag

However, come Saturday, June 3, the FA Cup final will be a Manchester derby with the Reds going for a cup double; while the Cityzens might be chasing a treble.

On Saturday, Algerian international, Riyad Mahrez struck the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since 1958 to seal Manchester City’s berth in the final.

Fresh from their Champions League Quater-final victory over Bayern Munich, the Pep Guardiola-tutored men were in devastating form as they took out Sheffield United 3-0 in the first semi-final match at Wembley.