Alexis Sanchez-inspired United hit back to end Tottenham's FA Cup dream
ByEurosport
Updated 22/04/2018 at 08:00 GMT
FA Cup semi-final, Wembley Stadium - Manchester United 2 (Sanchez 24', Herrera 62') Tottenham 1 (Alli 11')
Manchester United came from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
United picked both Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba while Mauricio Pochettino dropped Hugo Lloris in favour of Michel Vorm.
Spurs quickly took the lead through Dele Alli as Spurs dominated the early stages, but an impressive move from Pogba and Sanchez saw the Chilean head in to equalise.
In the second half, United broke up a dull start to the period with a strong finish from Herrera around the hour mark as Spurs failed to reassert themselves.
United held on as Spurs fell away and lost confidence, and could now equal Arsenal's record 13 FA Cup wins.
TALKING POINT
Has the penny finally dropped for Paul Pogba? In the first 20 minutes it looked again as if this was another match he wasn't interested in. Then he drifted left, started to use his strength to take on the opposition, and clipped in a superb ball for Alexis Sanchez to equalise. After a dreadful run for United it seems he is finally will to focus on the pitch.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Ander Herrera (Manchester United) Perhaps linked to Pogba's renaissance has been Herrera's return to the United midfield. He has few exceptional qualities, but he is brilliant at niggling fouls and getting into the right place near the box with his late runs. It gives United greater defensive resilience and takes the pressure of Pogba and Nemanja Matic to cover all the ground in the middle.
PLAYER RATINGS
Manchester United: De Gea 6, Valencia 7, Jones 7, Smalling 7, Young 7, Matic 6, Herrera 7, Pogba 7, Lingard 7, Lukaku 7, Alexis 7. Subs: Darmian 7, Fellaini 6, Rashford 6.
Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm, 5 Trippier 6, Sanchez 6, Vertonghen 6, Davies 6, Dier 6, Dembele 6, Eriksen 7, Alli 6, Son 5, Kane 5. Subs: Wanyama 6, Lamela 6, Lucas 6.
KEY EVENTS
11' - GOAL! Manchester United 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur. Alli scores - Eriksen sprints a way from a half-walking Pogba down the right. He looks up, picks out Alli at the back post, and Alli slides in to stab it home.
24' - GOAL! Manchester United 1-1 Spurs. Sanchez scores - Pogba wins the ball back on the left, shrugging Dembele off the ball. He whips in a cross to the back post, and Sanchez flies in to head past Vorm.
44' - VORM SAVE - Pogba takes the ball 30 yards from goal, spins and curls a low shot to the corner that Vorm tips just around the post.
45+2' - DIER HITS THE POST - Dier drills a shot from outside the box, and it thwacks against the post. That's the last chance of the half - see you in 15 minutes.
62' - GOAL! Manchester United 2-1 Spurs. Herrera scores - Sanchez barges his way into the box, pulls the ball across the box. Lukaku mishits the ball, it rolls past Lingard, and Herrera runs on to fizz it past Vorm.
89' - WANYAMA HEADER - Lamela curls in a free kick for Wanyama, only a few yards out, but he sends his header well over the bar.
KEY STATS
- Spurs have lost eight consecutive FA Cup finals.
- Manchester United have reached their 29th major domestic cup final (20 FACup, 9 League Cup), more than any other side in English football.
- Romelu Lukaku has had a hand in 14 goals in his last 12 FA Cup appearances (12 goals, 2 assists), including seven in five for Man Utd.
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