Manchester United Women booked our place in the Adobe Women's FA Cup final for the third consecutive year after beating Manchester City 2-0 at Joie Stadium.
United had chance after chance as we piled pressure on the hosts and doubled our advantage after 22 minutes, with Grace Clinton nodding home Gabby George's corner.
Thanks to a fantastic double save from Phallon Tullis-Joyce in the second half and some solid defensive work, United kept another clean sheet as we confirmed yet another trip to Wembley.
FIRST HALF
United pressed early on putting pressure on goalkeeper Khiara Keating. It was a tactic that worked well for us when the two sides met at the Etihad in our 4-2 WSL win earlier this season.
The Reds were ahead after just six minutes after a well-worked move. Grace Clinton laid the play off to Ella Toone, who found Celin Bizet after a fantastic run through the middle. City's defence stopped, looking for an offside, but the flag stayed down as Bizet remained composed. Our no.15 took one touch before blasting an effort it into the top right corner just six minutes in.
Marc Skinner's side didn't let up, they controlled the first 45 and fought for every ball. There was a stoppage in play while Mary Fowler got some treatment on the edge of the penalty area. Any concerns that the break in play would take the sting out of the Reds style of play were soon quashed as United continued their momentum while City muddled on with ten players.
Skinner's side took advantage of the extra player and doubled their lead from a corner twenty minutes in. It was an excellent delivery into the six yard box by Gabby George and Clinton was at the back post waiting to nod it in at the corner.
Moments later Toone was handed had a golden opportunity to make it three but her strike was punched over the bar by Keating who was certainly the busier of the two keepers.
With just under ten minutes to play in the first half and City found their rhythm as Kerolin Nicoli took on a long-range effort but luckily Phallon Tullis-Joyce was there to pull off a fantastic save, tipping it over the bar.
Moments later, following a City attack, United countered superbly. Toone turned with the ball and sent Leah Galton on her way. She found Bizet who was playing the game of her life, however, one-on-one with Keating, she couldn't find a way past the shot-stopper, even after two bites at the cherry.
City were growing into this game as the half rolled on but Le Tissier and Riviere were putting in some brilliant tackles to keep the hosts at bay and went in two goals to the good at the interval.
City started strongly in the second half, stringing together a couple of good attacks in the first five minutes but our backline was alert to the danger and snuffed out the threat before it troubled Tullis-Joyce.
United had to be patient for our chances but they did come. Bizet cut back to Elisabeth Terland who was waiting unmarked on the edge of the box, but she was leaning back as she took aim and the ball sailed just a little too high.
At the other end, Clinton gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area and picked up a booking for her troubles. The free-kick was taken by Hasegawa whose shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Tullis-Joyce. Lily Murphy tried to tap in a rebound but Tullis-Joyce got her foot to it and as the hosts went to recover the ball, as our shot-stopper let out a roar of celebration.
Tensions were growing in this derby as time marched on. Maya Le Tissier picked up a booking as she rose for a 50/50 ball with Kerolin, but clipped the Brazilian's head and Naomi Layzell was booked for City after bringing down Galton as she launched an attack.
City began to dominated with less than ten minutes remaining, as United tried to manage the game to secure our third successive trip to Wembley. However, with seven minutes added on, the Reds still had work to do to see it out.
Galton and Terland worked hard to try and keep the ball in the corner, preventing a City attack for a solid two minute, as the hosts frustration continued. The full-time whistle sounded soon after, as United raced towards our fans to celebrate.
MATCH DETAILS
City: Keating; Casparij, Prior, Aleixandri (c), Ouahabi; Coombs, Hasegawa, Murphy (Wienroither 82); Park, Fowler (Layzell 27), Kerolin.
Subs not used: Yamashita, Startup, Oyama, Lewis.
Booked: Layzell.
United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere (Mannion 87), Le Tissier (c), Turner, George (Sandberg 82); Miyazawa; Bizet (Malard 87), Toone (Naalsund 82), Clinton (Janssen 69), Galton; Terland.
Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Awujo, Williams.
Booked: Clinton, Tullis-Joyce, Le Tissier.
Goals: Bizet 6, Clinton 22.