Will It Be an All-Manchester FA Cup Final?
by Steve Ashfield | by Steve Ashfield
City Continue Bid for a Treble
The next few weeks could be massive for Manchester City. They are bidding to win the English Premier League, Champions League and the FA Cup. Whereas City have dominated the Premier League and the Carabao Cup in recent years, it's not been the same situation in the FA Cup and of course they're yet to win the Champions League.
Since winning the FA Cup in 1969, Manchester City have only twice lifted the trophy. They won the cup in 2011 but their most recent success was four years ago when beating Watford 6-0. City are the nearly men of the FA Cup as since that 2019 win, they have reached the semi-finals at Wembley every single season. With a tie against Championship side Sheffield United, a fourth successive FA Cup semi-final defeat looks unlikely.
City began this season's FA Cup with two difficult draws. They had home ties against Chelsea and Arsenal but came through both with flying colours. Games against Championship sides Bristol City and Burnley have followed and they arrive at Wembley having scored 14 goals and none conceded. Erling Haaland has only scored in one game but he did manage a hat-trick against Burnley in the last eight.
Big Week for the Blades
This looks like being a week to remember for Sheffield United. They are in our view unlikely to win this FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City but good news is on the way. They are second in the Championship and on the verge of winning promotion back to the Premier League.
United are in their first FA Cup semi-final since 2014. That year they were also playing in the second-tier of Engllsh football and lost an incredible game against Hull City 5-3 after leading 1-0 and 2-1. The last time they reached the FA Cup final was in 1936 and it's 98 years since they won the trophy. Such is the history of this competition, they first won it in the 19th century.
It could have been a very different story this season. The fourth round saw them require a 95th minute goal to come away from National League Wrexham with a draw. In the last eight, they twice trailed Blackburn Rovers before a 91st minute goal from Tommy Doyle (above) got them to Wembley. They'll try their best this weekend but it's Manchester City who should prevail.
Another Cup Success for United?
You have to go back to 2017 for the last time Manchester United won the FA Cup. This is their first semi-final since 2020 and an article similar to this would have been published. Both Manchester clubs made it to the last four but suffered defeats. United have already won the Carabao Cup this season and are the favourites to beat Brighton and Hove Albion and reach their 21st FA Cup final which will tie them with Arsenal for the most appearances in the final. They've lifted the trophy 12 times, just two behind Arsenal's all-time record.
40 years ago Manchester United won the FA Cup final. On that occasion, it was Brighton and Hove Albion who they beat but only after a replay. They also won the FA Cup in 1963, so perhaps it's destiny that they win again in 2023? They have had to beat three Premier League sides to reach this stage. Everton, West Ham and Fulham have all been beaten along with Championship side Reading. All four FA Cup ties this season have been played at Old Trafford.
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Seagulls A Big Danger
Can Alexis Mac Allister win a World Cup and an FA Cup in the same season? That's the target for the Argentinian midfielder who has been in great form for club and country this season.
The Seagulls have never played in European competition but have dreams of doing so next season. Even if they don't reach the FA Cup final, they still have a good chance of getting into either the Europa League or Europa Conference League via their league placing.
Brighton have only reached the one FA Cup final 40 years ago. This season has seen them knock out a wide range of opponents. They've beaten the FA Cup holders Liverpool and Grimsby Town from League Two in their quarter final. There's also been away wins at Championship clubs Middlesbrough and Stoke City. Their women's side lost to Manchester United in the Women's FA Cup semi-final last weekend. It's going to be tough for Brighton to avoid a similar feat and we do look set for an all-Manchester FA Cup final.
