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FA Cup: Everton 1-2 Manchester United
SCORERS
Everton: Chris Smalling (og.75)
United: Marouane Fellaini (34), Anthony Martial (90+3)
MATCH REPORT
Manchester United will have the chance to win a first FA Cup in 12 years after booking a return trip to Wembley in next month's final in the most dramatic fashion with an injury-time winner from Anthony Martial, following yet more heroics from David De Gea.
Former Toffees man Marouane Fellaini, one of four changes to the side with Tim Fosu-Mensah, Marcos Rojo and Michael Carrick also coming in, put the Reds in front on 34 minutes before De Gea saved a Romelu Lukaku penalty and Chris Smalling put through his own net. Then followed the classic United late drama as substitute Ander Herrera put Martial through and the Frenchman coolly slotted home in front of the jubilant United fans.
The Reds had already enjoyed two wins out of two from the season's league meetings with Everton and the opening quarter of the match brought hope a third would follow, with United dominating possession and looking sharp in attack. But in Lukaku, Everton had a pacy, skilful outlet and, while the Reds created the majority of the early openings, United still needed De Gea to make some customary solid stops and Wayne Rooney, playing in a midfield role once more, to run the length of the field to head off the line as Lukaku threatened.
In Rooney, Martial and Marcus Rashford, the Reds had three attackers who looked well in the mood. Martial was off and running at the Everton defenders from the start and should have scored on 21 minutes when Jesse Lingard put him through, but the Frenchman blasted over.
Before that, Rojo had headed wide, Lingard had seen a shot saved by Joel Robles in the Everton goal after being found brilliantly by Rooney. Rashford was next to be denied by Joel after taking aim from Fellaini's knock-down as the frenetic pace continued.
United's deserved breakthrough duly arrived 11 minutes before the break when Martial burst towards the touchline for the umpteenth time and pulled the ball back for former Everton man Fellaini to steer home from close range.
HALF-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: Everton 42% United 58%
Shots: Everton 5 United 11
Shots on target: Everton 4 United 5
Corners: Everton 0 United 4
The second half began as the first had ended, with United on top and creating more chances, the best of which fell to Lingard after a move involving fellow youngsters Fosu-Mensah, Rashford and Martial, whose backheel set Lingard up for a shot, but he dragged it wide.
Everton sparked into life 11 minutes after the restart when Aaron Lennon broke forward and found Ross Barkley. Fosu-Mensah went in for the tackle with referee Anthony Taylor adjudging it to be a foul even though the young defender appeared to get the ball. Lukaku stood over the penalty but De Gea, the man who thwarted Leighton Baines from the spot last season, dived brilliantly to his right to push the spot-kick away.
Despite the setback for Roberto Martinez's men, they well and truly had their tails up and continued their onslaught on the United goal. Tom Cleverley fired wide as he flew in at the back post, while Barkley shot wide when given an opening.
United were struggling to get a foothold in the game, although Fellaini went close to bundling the ball home on 65 minutes. Everton continued to threaten and drew level 15 minutes from time in the cruelest of fashions from a United perspective, as substitute Gerard Deulofeu's cross was deflected into his own goal by Smalling.
The Everton sub forced a top save from De Gea soon after, while Fellaini made what looked to be a goal-saving tackle as Lukaku took aim after Everton broke forward from a United corner.
It looked like extra-time would be needed, but the Reds' never-say-die spirit made sure that would not be the case as, in injury time, Martial latched onto Herrera's poked through-ball to send United fans into raptures and his team into next month's FA Cup final. See you in May, Wembley!
FULL-TIME STATISTICS
Possession: Everton 45% United 55%
Shots: Everton 16 United 22
Shots on target: Everton 8 United 7
Corners: Everton 2 United 7
THE TEAMS
Everton: Joel, Baines, Gibson, Stones, Jagielka (c), Lukaku, Lennon (Deulofeu 70), Cleverley, McCarthy, Besic, Barkley.
Subs not used: Howard, Hibbert, Oviedo, Mirallas, Osman, Pennington.
Booked: Barkley
United: De Gea, Fosu-Mensah (Valencia 61), Smalling, Blind, Rojo, Carrick, Fellaini (Herrera 87), Lingard, Rooney (c), Martial, Rashford.
Subs not used: Romero, Darmian, Schneiderlin, Mata, Memphis.
Booked: Rooney, Herrera, Martial
MATCH REACTION
"I can't remember the last time I had a feeling like this - it's a phenomenal feeling." - Michael Carrick
"It’s fantastic when you see the joy in the eyes of the players. But also for the fans, because I think we deserved to reach the final." - Louis van Gaal
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