KEIR RADNEDGE at WEMBLEY —- June 3 will see the first all-Manchester duel in the 142nd FA Cup Final back at Wembley after United beat Brighton 7-6 on penalties following a goalless draw. City had enjoyed a far easier time in beating Sheffield United 3-0 the previous day.

United already hold the League Cup and thus a double beckons Erik ten Hag at the end of his first season as manager after Solly March shot over David De Gea’s crossbar and Victor Lindelof stepped forward to pop the Red Devils into their 23rd final. All a very different sort of drama to 1983 when United beat Brighton 4-0 in the final replay after a 2-2 draw.

Ten Hag said: “It proves we can deal with setbacks in difficult situations.”

United had kicked off with something to prove after the midweek debacle of Europa League elimination by Sevilla.

Both the defeat and the manner of it had raised speculation about how United will approach the summer transfer window though this could yet depend on whether the Glazer family sell the club to Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani or Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Brighton seized the early initiative. Alexis Mac Allister had a free kick well saved for a corner by David de Gea at one end then Bruno Fernandes had a shot beaten out by Roberto Sanchez at the other.

The Seagulls maintained their pressure with Pascal Gross allowed a vast amount of space on the right wing. Twice Julio Enciso, their 19-year-old Paraguayan playmaker, shot narrowly wide of goal. Gross, the only survivor from the Brighton team promoted back to the Premier League six years ago, had signed a contract extension in midweek.

United responded shortly before halftime. Fernandes pulled a shot wide across goal, Anthony Martial lofted over the top and Christian Eriksen saw a shot saved by Sanchez’s left boot.

Brighton began the second half brightly. Enciso had another effort tipped over the bar by De Gea before being substituted in a reshuffle which saw Gross move forward onto the right of midfield. But the match became increasingly scrappy with few chances and a catalogue of minor injuries breaking up the rhythm on the way to extra time.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi said: “I think we deserved to win because we played better and had more chances. We suffered in the middle of the second half but for the rest of the game we commanded the play.

“I told Solly March I had been a player and made a lot of mistakes with penalties. He was one of the best players in bringing us here and I’m proud of him.”

City’s ambition

Manchester City could yet become the first team to win the FA Cup without conceding a goal since Preston all the way back in 1889. They had no problems disposing of second-tier promotion chasers Sheffield United by 3:0 with Riyad Mahrez scoring the first semi-final hat-trick in 65 years.

The last player to strike a treble had been Alex Dawson for the immediate post-Munich Manchester United in a 5:3 replay win over Fulham at Highbury in 1958. The Algeria international put Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasing side ahead with a penalty late in the first half before striking twice more after the hour.

City’s 11th win in 12 games set them up perfectly for Wednesday’s top-of-table Premier League clash with leaders.

Manager Pep Guardiola said: “We lacked a little bit but in general it was a really good performance. I’m so impressed by everyone at this club – hierarchy, backroom staff, players – with the ambition of winning titles and winning titles again. That is what makes me proud the most as a manager.”

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