FA Cup: Man United set for epic final clash against City after penalty win over Brighton

At Wembley Stadium on Sunday, Manchester United triumphed over Brighton in a thrilling penalty shootout, securing their place in the FA Cup final against a formidable Manchester City side pursuing a treble.

Victor Lindelof emerged as the hero, converting the decisive penalty to give Erik ten Hag's squad a 7-6 victory. The win keeps Manchester United in contention for a domestic cup double, following Solly March's unfortunate miss.

Despite the tension, the semi-final match ended in a goalless draw after extra time, with neither team able to find the finishing touch necessary to claim victory.

Ten Hag made three alterations to his lineup after a disappointing Europa League performance against Sevilla earlier in the week.

Luke Shaw filled in at centre-back for the suspended Harry Maguire, while Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes took the places of Jadon Sancho and Marcel Sabitzer. Manchester United has already claimed the League Cup this season, ending a six-year trophy drought, and appears well-positioned to secure a top-four Premier League finish.

However, their confidence took a significant hit following a 3-0 loss in Spain on Thursday, resulting in a 5-2 aggregate defeat in the Europa League quarter-finals. Brighton, who narrowly lost the FA Cup final replay to United 40 years ago, entered the Wembley showdown with momentum after recent victories against Manchester United and Chelsea.

Brighton started the match strongly, dominating possession and creating chances, while Manchester United seemed content to defend and rely on the speed of Rashford and Antony. Despite several opportunities for both sides, the match ultimately ended in a stalemate, necessitating a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

In front of a sea of Brighton supporters, Manchester United held their nerve in a high-quality shootout, ultimately emerging victorious and booking their place in the FA Cup final.