After a scoreless stalemate on Sunday at Wembley due to Solly March’s missed chance, Manchester United defeated Brighton 7-6 on penalties to advance to the FA Cup final, securing a summit matchup with archrivals Manchester City on 3 June.
The Brighton winger was devastated by the lone missed penalty after a nail-biting 120 minutes during which either team would have thought they deserved a rematch against Manchester City on 3 June. As Brighton stormed out of the gate, Alexis Mac Allister forced David De Gea to make an early fingertip save from a free-kick. However, as the half went on, United improved, and Bruno Fernandes and Anthony Martial both wasted decent opportunities in stoppage time.
The Seagulls came close to scoring for the first time in the second half, but Julio Enciso, the hero against Chelsea the weekend before, was once again stopped by a magnificent De Gea save, and then Danny Welbeck glanced over from a corner. Erik ten Hag’s team had a chance to win the game late on, but Jadon Sancho, a substitute, narrowly missed the goal frame with a curling attempt.
In extra time, Marcus Rashford appeared to have the game won when he flashed a shot past the post with only Robert Sanchez to beat. However, Kaoru Mitoma’s heavy touch prevented him from scoring what appeared to be a certain last-minute winner.
After each of the first 12 penalties in the ensuing shootout were scored, March’s miss allowed Victor Lindelof to score the winning spot-kick and set United up for a shot at a second trophy this season.
The fact that the score remained tied after 90 minutes, just as it had in Brighton’s FA Cup final against Manchester United forty years earlier, did not come as much of a surprise.
The comparisons persisted but became harsher. In Brighton’s opening game of that season, Gordon Smith had blown a golden opportunity in the final minute of extra time, and this time Mitoma’s heavy touch with only De Gea to beat denied him and the Seagulls the joy of a last-second victory at Wembley.
In the subsequent 30 minutes, that was the closest either side got to winning. After getting the better of Joel Veltman, Rashford should have performed better, but instead, he mishit a strong shot well wide, and Marcel Sabitzer glanced a Sancho cross past the goal post.
With the exception of the outcome, similarities between the two events stopped when semi-final replays were abandoned more than 20 years ago. After 12 successful conversions, March missed his conversion attempt, giving United the advantage.
