FA Cup semi-final thriller
Manchester clubs make giant finals clear
04/23/2023, 8:35 p.m
English football can look forward to a treat: Manchester United and Manchester City meet in the final of the FA Cup. The Red Devils followed suit a day after the Citizens’ win, but had to take a detour via penalties to do so.
The duel of the giants is set: Manchester United has reached the final of the FA Cup after a penalty kick and meets city rivals City there. The English record champions, who failed on Thursday in the quarter-finals of the Europa League at FC Sevilla, won the exciting semi-final against Brighton & Hove Albion 7: 6 on penalties. Victor Lindelöf made the decision in this football crime thriller, previously Solly March had been the only shooter. Manchester United have won the trophy eight times, the last triumph being seven years ago. Man City (5 titles) last won in 2019.
After 120 goalless minutes in the penalty shoot-out, the Red Devils were able to rely on their nerve-racking shooters. Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, on loan from Bayern Munich, made it 5-5 and former Wolfsburg player Wout Weghorst made it 6-6. Ex-Borussian Jadon Sancho also scored. On the Brighton side, the two Germans Pascal Groß and Deniz Undav were also sovereign. After March’s penalty shot well over the goal at Wembley, Lindelöf took the chance.
For United it is on June 3rd against rival Manchester City: The champions had already bought their ticket for the final on Saturday with a 3-0 (1-0) win over Sheffield United. Team manager Pep Guardiola had rotated vigorously and renounced some regular players. “I’m happy and really satisfied. The guys who came off the bench did really well,” said Guardiola.
Riyad Mahrez, who was in the starting XI alongside star striker Erling Haaland, gave the clearly superior Citizens the lead with a penalty just before the half-time break (43rd minute). In the second half he made everything clear for the clearly favored team with two goals within five minutes (61st/66th). For Sheffield, the clear defeat in the cup should be bearable to some extent. Second in the Championship, the Blades are poised for promotion to the Premier League.