Trending Topics: Fans highlight Lukaku and Matic
Manchester United are heading to Wembley Stadium for an anticipated FA Cup semi-final after goals from Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic defeated Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford.
The Reds needed a positive result following the disappointment of the UEFA Champions League defeat to Sevilla in midweek and, thankfully, Jose Mourinho's stepped up to earn a vital victory.
As ever, the goal-scorers were trending topics on Twitter as fans praised their work. Scroll down for our favourite tweets...
LUKAKU'S 25TH GOAL OF THE SEASON
Romelu Lukaku the last one on the pitch applauding the fans. Love that. #mufc pic.twitter.com/5gOUGwJxIf
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) March 17, 2018
Romelu Lukaku has 32 goal contributions in all competitions this season, 25 goals and 7 assists. Say what you want, but that’s an excellent return for his first season at Manchester United.
— Adam (@UnitedAdz) March 17, 2018
25 goals in 44 appearances for #mufc for Lukaku now and 10 in his last 14. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea but he’s one of the few who has been consistently delivering over this difficult past couple of months
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) March 17, 2018
Romelu Lukaku scores his 25th goal of the season. What a signing. What a player. #mufc pic.twitter.com/S90Rvii0ME
— United Xtra (@utdxtra) March 17, 2018
Romelu Lukaku this season:
— AidaN 🇮🇪 (@AidanMUFC_) March 17, 2018
🔴 Games: 44
⚽️ Goals: 25
🎯 Assists: 7 pic.twitter.com/i8qTscqYMq
Romelu Lukaku reaches a season milestone ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/I92E7gAt7Q
— utdreport (@utdreport) March 17, 2018
🇧🇪 Lukaku for Man Utd...
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) March 17, 2018
- Games: 44
- Goals: 25
Deserves more respect#MUNBHA pic.twitter.com/tU7t8GfVXv
5 - Romelu Lukaku has either scored or assisted in each of his last five appearances for Man Utd. Leading.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2018
v Chelsea ⚽️🅰️
v Crystal Palace ⚽️
v Liverpool 🅰️
v Sevilla ⚽️
v Brighton ⚽️
MATIC IS MAN OF THE MATCH
2 - Nemanja Matic has both scored and assisted in a game for the first time since August 2014 for Chelsea against Everton. Collectors.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 17, 2018
Well, well deserved goal for Nemanja Matić. Best player on the pitch tonight, in my eyes.
— Adam (@UnitedAdz) March 17, 2018
Great cross by Matic and fine finish by Lukaku. Mourinho's signings to the rescue. #mufc
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) March 17, 2018
Deserved goal for Matic, eyes on Young’s superb delivery all the way. Not elegant but effective by #mufc. Mourinho back at Wembley. Love him or loathe him, he knows the way.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) March 17, 2018
Good response after the Sevilla game, Lukaku & Matic with 2 good goals. Semi final and a Wembley trip to look forward to for the fans. Matic deserves the MOTM award for me with another good performance #mufc
— Mickey T (@therealMickeyT) March 17, 2018
Matic proving to be one of our mister reliables on the pitch. His delivery to Lukaku was inch perfect and followed that up with a header of his own earns him the man if the match imo.
— Bryan Davies (@MrBryanDavies) March 17, 2018
The man of the matic💪👹👹👹#MUFC #GGMU pic.twitter.com/hrDABTLTnq
ANALYSIS
ManUtd.com’s Mark Froggatt…
“All that mattered on Saturday night was that we won the game. I’m sure everyone wanted to see something a little bit more spectacular on the pitch, but the win is enough. We got the first goal, hung on a little bit when Brighton responded well, scored a second goal and crucially secured progress to the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley. On the whole, it’s a successful night for the club.
“Undoubtedly, after scoring a goal each, Lukaku and Matic were our outstanding performances, which will please the manager after he reserved praise for the pair during his well-documented press conference on Friday. His two summer signings delivered the goods when the pressure was on.”
MATCH STATS: LUKAKU AND MATIC
NOW FLICK THROUGH THE STANDOUT IMAGES
Photographers had plenty to aim their lenses at on Saturday, with snow falling throughout a bitterly cold March night in Manchester, and the gallery below contains a selection of atmospheric pics...