LONDON – Manchester United weathered an early Tottenham storm to come from behind to win 2-1 and reach a 20th FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.
Goals from Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera cancelled out Dele Alli’s opener and ensured that Tottenham’s decade-long wait for a trophy continues.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino played down the importance of winning his first silverware as a coach to back up four years of undoubted progress at Tottenham beforehand, claiming it “wouldn’t change their lives”.
However, Spurs started like the side determined to make a statement.
Harry Kane and Son Heung-min had already seen shots deflected behind, before Spurs went in front with a brilliant team goal on 11 minutes.
Davinson Sanchez’s long ball picked out Christian Eriksen perfectly as Paul Pogba failed to track the Danish midfielder’s run down the right.
And his cross was inch-perfect for Alli to apply the finishing touch for his 13th goal of the season.
Spurs failed to make the most of their early dominance, though, as Eriksen scuffed wide from Kane’s layoff before the England striker just couldn’t reach Son’s viscous in-swinging cross at the back post.
Pogba has been a figure of frustration all season for Jose Mourinho, who has often left the £89 million Frenchman on the sidelines.
Ander Herrera shoots and scores for Manchester United against Tottenham at Wembley. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Mourinho said Pogba had shown what he is capable of in Wednesday’s 2-0 win at Bournemouth after being substituted just four days earlier in a shock 1-0 home defeat to West Brom, which handed Manchester City the Premier League title.
And having showed the side of his game that Mourinho detests for Spurs’ opener, Pogba demonstrated his combination of physical power and technical ability as he outmuscled Mousa Dembele before delivering a pinpoint cross for Sanchez.
The Chilean has also been much-criticised since reportedly becoming the highest paid player in Premier League history when he moved from Arsenal in January.
However, Sanchez has a superb record at Wembley. His third United goal was his eighth in eight games at the home of English football for club and country.
Wembley is red. #MUFC #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/f6wrsU8v4P
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 21, 2018
Both sides were unfortunate to not take the lead in the dying moments of a captivating first 45 minutes, as firstly Michel Vorm got fingertips to a deflected long-range strike from Pogba.
At the other end, Eric Dier then drove against the base of the post, with David de Gea unmoved.
Kane had the first chance of the second period, but saw his shot blocked behind by Chris Smalling as Spurs again started on the front foot.
But, once more, they were hit by a sucker punch when Sanchez’s ball across the face of the area fell perfectly for Herrera arriving late from midfield and, despite going in the middle of the goal, his low effort beat Vorm, who was slow to react down to his right.
MATCH-WINNER 😜 @JesseLingard x @AnderHerrera pic.twitter.com/LWEj7ok3pe
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 21, 2018
Eriksen came closest to a reply for Spurs with a long-range strike that flew just wide.
Spurs will likely seal their place in the Champions League for a third successive season in the coming weeks as Pochettino’s proof that progress is being made.
However, with Spurs only three defeats of 2018 now all coming at Wembley against the toughest of opposition in Juventus, Manchester City and now United, questions remain over Pochettino’s ability to turn Tottenham into trophy winners.