MANCHESTER UNITED 2 EVERTON 1

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM

In a topsy-turvy season for Manchester United, they managed to beat Everton as they reached the FA Cup Final for the first time in 9 years.  It was the first time United had won an FA Cup game at the new Wembley Stadium since it reopened in 2007.  Louis Van Gaal will get the chance to salvage a trophy from the season as they await the winners of tomorrow’s semi final between Crystal Palace and Watford.

In the 4^th minute Anthony Martial went past three players but his shot was deflected for a corner. Within a minute Everton should have taken the lead. Romelu Lukaku received the ball over the top and went round David De Gea and shot goal wards but Wayne Rooney who had the foresight to drop back headed the ball clear.

From a free kick taken by Rooney Marcos Rojo headed the ball but it was just wide of Joel Robles’ goal.  Shortly after Jesse Lingard had chance as Rooney played him in but he could not put much weight on his shot and Robles saved it.

Lukaku had another chance to give Everton the lead but he was forced wide and De Gea Gathered the ball comfortably.   United were dominating possession and at the midway point of the game Martial had burst into the box but his shot was wide. That was United’s best chance of the game up to that point.

From a Marouane Fellaini knock down Marcos Rashford but Robles easily gathered the ball.  Just before the hour mark, James McCarthy hit a shot, which was deflected into the grateful hands of De Gea.  In the 33^rd minute Anthony Martial got down the left win bore down on goal, turned Muhamed Besic and squared the ball to Fellaini, who sent Robles the wrong way as he passed the ball into the net to give Manchester United the lead. It was no more than United deserved as they had been all over Everton like a rash. United led 1-0 at the break.

In the 53^rd minute after some nice interchange of passes Lingard was one on one with Robles but his shot was wide of the target as he completely fluffed his lines.

Ross Barkley got into the box and as Timothy Fosu-Mensah tried to get the ball he was adjudged to have got the man before the ball and the referee awarded a penalty to Everton. Lukaku stepped forward and hit it to De Gea’s right but the Spaniard got down low and saved his it. United’s lead was still intact due to the brilliant De Gea who United fans are grateful did not leave for Madrid in the summer.

Fosu-Mensah was then replaced by Antonio Valencia.

Everton were gradually creeping into the game as the tide seemed to turn their way. Tom Cleverley dinked the ball to the back post where Lukaku was waiting but his header was over the bar.

In the 75 minute Everton drew level.  Lukaku passed to second half substitute Gerard Deulofeu who crossed the ball and Chris Smalling could only manage to divert the ball into De Gea’s net to make the score 1-1.

Everton nearly took the lead as Deulofeu hit cross into the box where Lukaku was waiting but De Gea got his fingers to the ball and pushed it wide. Everton were now in the ascendancy.

Fellaini fouled an Everton player but the referee played the advantage. However Lukaku saw his shot deflected for a corner by Fellaini. 

As the game appeared to be heading towards extra time, United launched one last attack and Herrera poked the ball to Martial on the edge of the box and Martial did the rest as he slotted the ball past Robles to win it for United at the death.  Now that is what you call “Fergie” time and there was no comeback from that for the blue half of Liverpool as they were crest fallen and shell shocked.

There fans applauded their effort but United just had a little bit left for them to preserve Louis Van Gaal’s chances of winning a trophy for United as he has done at every club he has managed.

United thoroughly deserved their win as they shaded two-thirds of the game.  They were quicker to the ball and just did not let Everton settle and the plan appeared to be not to let Ross Barkley breath for a second on the ball as the likes of Fellaini cut off the supply to him and also doubled up on him.

Everton have now been knocked out in two cup semi finals this season and their manager Roberto Martinez said “Football can be cruel. We do not deserve to be out of  the FA Cup semi final.”

Louis Van Gaal said:” I think the first half we were the better team. In the second half I think the referee changed the match.  I think the penalty was a penalty. I am not arguing about that. But I am arguing about the 50-50 duels. Anthony scored a fantastic goal. We are lucky that we scored in the last minute but I think we deserved to win.”