United heading to Wembley after beating Brighton

Jose Mourinho had highlighted the star contribution of Lukaku and Matic in his memorable Friday press conference and the pair paid back his compliments with the goals that will take United to London on the weekend of 21/22 April.

 

The Old Trafford faithful were looking for a quick response from the team following the huge disappointment of Tuesday's Champions League exit to Sevilla. Mourinho had produced his own riposte as a result of the Euro KO with an impassioned speech to the media. Now it was the time for the team to give their answer.

 

There was a mini blizzard at the start of the game that left the surface with a light dusting of snow but it took the Reds a little bit of time to warm up in the Arctic conditions. But for the most part it was a case of United camping out in the Brighton half.

 

Early shots from top scorer Lukaku and Jesse Lingard failed to trouble Brighton goalkeeper Tim Krul. Anthony Martial was always threatening danger and a tight link up with Juan Mata after 29 minutes saw a series of one-twos force United through the Brighton defence but Mata’s shot was deflected wide. Chris Smalling almost found the breakthrough from the resulting corner when he stabbed a shot against the woodwork in a near-post scramble.

There wasn’t a lot of danger coming from Chris Hughton’s side but there was a warning after 32 minutes when captain Lewis Dunk powered a header that needed a pair of strong hands from Sergio Romero.

 

United’s build-up remained patient and measured and they got the reward after 37 minutes. Matic serviced Lukaku with a swinging long cross to the far post which the Belgian met with a header to beat Krul for his 25th goal in all competitions in his Reds debut campaign.

 

There was a quiet, discreet fist pump towards Mourinho from the striker and the manager responded in kind. It was Lukaku’s 10th goal in 14 matches in 2018 and just what United needed.

Brighton had been neat and tidy and looked like the plan was to contain the Reds and strike on the break. Lukaku left that blueprint in tatters and the Seagulls' second-half tactics showed a bit more threat, with Pascal Gross and Jurgen Locadia threatening Romero’s goal early in the second 45.

 

Locadia’s second attempt after 57 minutes was the most dangerous moment, as the Dutchman turned and fired a left-foot shot that Romero sprang spectacularly to keep out.

 

United were finding it a struggle to add to Lukaku’s first-half goal and were unable to test Krul as Brighton continued to add to their goal-attempt stats. Locadia was adding the most to that and hearts were in mouths when he found himself free at the far post, but his header flew over the bar.

The Reds continued to find chances hard to come by to alleviate the growing anxiety of a potential equaliser and extra time, but finally as the temperatures dipped Matic relieved the stress with the second goal seven minutes from time.

 

Half-time substitute Ashley Young, who had replaced Luke Shaw, floated in a free-kick to the far post and Matic did what Lukaku had done earlier and met the delivery with a headed finish in front of the Stretford End. Wembley here we come!

 

United: Romero; Valencia (c), Bailly, Smalling, Shaw (Young 45); Matic, McTominay; Mata (Rashford 73), Lingard (Fellaini 88), Martial; Lukaku.

 

Subs not used: De Gea, Lindelof, Young, Pogba, Alexis.

 

Brighton: Krul; Schelotto, Dunk (c), Duffy, Suttner; Beram Kayal, Propper, Gross; Locadia, Ulloa (Murray 76), March (Izquierdo 69).

 

Subs not used: Maenpaa, Bruno, Goldson, Sanders, Baldock.

 

LUKAKU LOVES THE CUP: United have a lot to thank Romelu Lukaku for this season, particularly as the Reds chase the one piece of silverware left on offer. The Belgian has scored five of United’s 10 goals in the FA Cup having struck against Derby, Yeovil, twice at Huddersfield and now Brighton. Let's hope he can keep it going under the Wembley arch.

 

WHEN IS THE SEMI-FINAL DRAW? United will discover their Wembley opponents in the last four on Sunday afternoon following the last quarter-final of the weekend when Leicester City play Chelsea at the King Power Stadium. The draw will be live on BBC One and United will be ball no.2.

 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR UNITED? It’s an international break for the squad following the cup tie but United will be back in action at Old Trafford against Swansea City in the Premier League on Saturday 31 March (KO 15:00 BST).