Manchester United triumphed over Brighton in a nail-biting penalty shootout at Wembley, booking their spot in the FA Cup final and bringing them one step closer to a remarkable cup double. The victory sets up a thrilling final clash against archrivals Manchester City.
Swedish defender Victor Lindelof emerged as the hero for the Red Devils, scoring the decisive penalty after Brighton’s Solly March missed his shot. It was a critical win for United, who have experienced a rollercoaster of a season.
Dutch forward Wout Weghorst, speaking to talkSPORT, disclosed that he had wanted to take an earlier penalty. However, manager Erik ten Hag opted for the Netherlands international to take the sixth penalty for the team. Weghorst emphasized the importance of the FA Cup and the opportunity to secure another trophy for the club.
After the game, Ten Hag praised Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, both of whom had previously missed penalties for England in the Euro 2020 shootout against Italy. The United manager noted the duo’s calm and composed attitude during training, which translated into successful penalties on Sunday night against Brighton’s Robert Sanchez.
Ten Hag also revealed that the team had been practicing penalties throughout the season, including in the Premier League. With the final against Manchester City looming, United will look to build on their recent success and continue their pursuit of the elusive cup double.