Man United Make History Reaching 31st FA Cup Semi-Final
- As Erik ten Hag eyes domestic cup double
- Manchester City vs Sheffield United
- Brighton vs Manchester United
Manchester United have rewritten the history books as they reach a record-setting 31st FA Cup semi-final on Sunday evening.
Having already won the Carabao Cup in 2023, the Red Devils prevailed in an eventful FA Cup quarter-final clash with Fulham and will now be heading back to Wembley to face Brighton & Hove Albion.
With the Cottagers being reduced to nine men at Old Trafford while also seeing their Manager Marco Silva collect a red card, Bruno Fernandes bagged a brace for United to win 3-1 on the night. Marcel Sabitzer was also on target for Erik ten Hag’s side who are now preparing to face Brighton in the semi-finals.
The Carabao Cup glory this season brought United’s six-year wait for major silverware to a close and they last made the FA Cup semi-finals in 2019-20, while losing to Chelsea. Their most recent success in the competition came under the guidance of Louis van Gaal in 2016.
Meanwhile, the two Manchester bitter rivals, Manchester City and Manchester United narrowly escaped each other as the semi-final round draw took place just before United defeated Fulham at Old Trafford.
Manchester City will play Sheffield United while Brighton will be up against Manchester United in the FA Cup last four. The Citizens were the first team to progress to Wembley after Pep Guardiola’s side destroyed Burnley 6-0 in the opening quarter-final, courtesy of another hat-trick from Erling Haaland, and will play another Championship side, Sheffield United in the last four.
On their part, Sheffield prevailed against Blackburn in a thrilling tie. However, they may have to face City without match-winner Tommy Doyle and James McAtee, who are on loan from their parent Premier League club, Manchester City.
The 21-year-old would have been hoping to follow in the footsteps of his grandfathers Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe by playing at the National Stadium after firing the Blades into the last four with a stunning injury-time strike in the thrilling 3-2 win against Blackburn.
But the semi-final draw was not kind, pairing Sheffield with City, a tie for which under the competition’s rules for loan players Doyle and fellow loanee James McAtee will be ineligible.
Brighton advanced to the semi-finals thanks to a 5-0 win over Grimsby Town, the Conference Premier side, whose impressive run in the competition finally came to an end. Roberto de Zerbi’s side will face Manchester United, following nine-man Fulham’s extraordinary collapse at Old Trafford.
