Anthony Martial Nets Late Winner In FA Cup Semi-Final

 

Anthony Martial's stoppage-time strike at Wembley sent Manchester United into the FA Cup final with a 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday.  Marouane Fellaini gave United the lead after 34 minutes in a pulsating encounter, before a Chris Smalling own goal handed Everton a lifeline in the second half.

Romelu Lukaku had seen an earlier penalty saved by David de Gea but Everton, who pushed for a winner with extra time looming, were left stunned when Martial's 93rd-minute strike sealed victory. United started on top as Marcos Rojo headed an early chance wide before Jesse Lingard shot straight at Joel Robles from Wayne Rooney's through ball. The Merseyside club had opportunities on the break too, but an unusually wasteful Lukaku twice failed to finish. First, Rooney cleared his effort off the line after the striker had skipped round De Gea, before the Belgian's poor first touch sent him wide with the United 'keeper to beat.

United quickly took control as Lingard teed up Martial to blaze over, and Marcus Rashford fired a volley at Robles after Fellaini's knock-down. And with Everton's defence creaking, United went ahead through Fellaini. Martial was again involved, floating past Besic before teeing up the former Everton midfielder to score against his old club. Phil Jagielka, who had passed a fitness test to play, was struggling to cope with Rashford as Everton remained on the back foot and they left the field to boos at half-time.

In a second half completely opposite to the first, Everton were handed a route back into the tie when Ross Barkley was brought down by Timothy Fosu-Mensah in the penalty area. Lukaku stepped up but De Gea's sprawling save preserved United's narrow advantage. The setback seemed to bring Everton to life as they went in search of an equaliser and Tom Cleverley fired wide from Aaron Lennon's cross before turning provider for Lukaku, but the striker headed over.

A desperate lunge from Jagielka denied Fellaini a second, and Everton levelled with 15 minutes to play when Smalling turned substitute Gerard Deulofeu's cross into his own net. They now looked more likely to progress and nearly went ahead when a lightning break set up Lukaku, but Fellaini's last-ditch challenge denied his international team-mate. Martial snatched a dramatic winner after Ander Herrera poked the ball into his path, picking out the bottom corner to send United into their first FA Cup final since 2007.

United will return to Wembley for the final on May 21 looking to win the trophy for the first time since 2004, with Crystal Palace set to face Watford in the other semi-final on Sunday