Man Utd 2-1 Tottenham: United make FA Cup final after Wembley win over Spurs

Tottenham's FA Cup nightmare continues as Spurs have now lost an incredible eight consecutive FA Cup semi-final defeats while United go on to face either Chelsea or Southampton who play on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho could become just the third manager to win the FA Cup with two different clubs, but that possibility looked unlikely when Alli gave Spurs the lead.

Paul Pogba was not alert enough to catch up with Christian Eriksen before he could send in his fine cross but made amends by taking possession off Mousa Dembele and swinging in a fine cross for Sanchez to superbly nod home.

The Chilean's eighth goal in as many Wembley appearances for club and country was followed by Eric Dier hitting the post - but hardworking Herrera would take the headlines.

The Spaniard rifled a low shot past back-up goalkeeper Michel Vorm - a 62nd-minute strike which secured victory in United's record-equalling 29th FA Cup semi-final as Spurs bowed out in the final four for the second successive season.

Man Utd are now the 8/11 favourites to win the FA Cup with Chelsea 6/4 and Southampton 12/1

Pochettino's men wilted after a superb start that was like January's comprehensive 2-0 Wembley win in the Premier League.

It took only 11 seconds to open the scoring that evening. This time it was 11 minutes.

Davinson Sanchez aimed a long, hopeful ball down the right flank, catching Ashley Young horribly out of position and Pogba off guard. Eriksen scampered away, crossing to the far post for Alli to turn in.

Harry Kane was inches away from latching onto Son Heung-min's cross then Eriksen turned wide - but Spurs' boldness in possession turned into over-confidence in the 24th minute as Dembele made the foolhardy decision to try and nutmeg Pogba.

The France midfielder stood his ground, shrugged off the Spurs midfielder and sent over a clipped cross which Sanchez headed home superbly.

Pogba saw a deflected 25-yard attempt tipped wide by Vorm as half-time approached, before Dier's long-range strike deflected off Chris Smalling and onto the post.

Then in the 62nd minute Lukaku directed onto Sanchez and then fortuitously flicked on the return ball, with Lingard leaving it for Herrera to rifle in.

Eriksen shot just wide as United began to sweat, with Young booked and then Valencia perhaps fortunate not to get another yellow card.

Pogba had an attempt before Dier, substitute Marcus Rashford and Herrera were cautioned as play broke up and United looked to batten down the hatches, which they did successfully.

The final will give the chance for serial winner Mourinho to lift a third major trophy in two seasons at Old Trafford.

Mourinho's men are also well on course to be the best of the rest in the Premier League and the Portuguese believes that is the true measure of their success.

He said: "If we can finish the season with two victories and one draw and finish the season with 81 points, if we managed to do that, untouchable City, no chance to be in a fight with them, I think that is a good season.

"We can come to the final with a good spirit in the same spirit we came today.

"The season is successful if we finish second. If we do that with 81 points, if we have a better Premier League than Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal that is successful.

"To finish second against Manchester City is good, to get more points than last season, to win more matches, to concede less goals, to win more matches against top teams, I think is a successful season.

"The final is the final and you have to try to win but I don't think it is because of one game the season is good or bad."

The defeat puts Pochettino under more pressure to match Tottenham's rise to the top of the English game with silverware.

But the Argentinian has always been steadfast in his opinion that the Premier League and Champions League are the priorities and he is not wavering from that message.

"We are in a process that to arrive at the semi-final and be competitive in the Champions League and be competitive in the Premier League and fight for the top four is not enough," he said.

"Everyone feels that we are close and still it is nearly to touch. It is the only way to reach the next level, that allows you to compete if not to win.

"Tottenham in the last four years are building a very good team, trying to create a winning mentality and it is not enough at the moment.

"But Tottenham need to keep going in this direction and to create that winning mentality, it is not about a few years.

"Tottenham need more time with me or with another, but the most important thing is to keep going and keep developing that philosophy that is fantastic for this club.

"We are in the process in the last four years there was the challenge to be competitive and then to reduce the distance with the top four. We were competitive in the last four years but winning a trophy is not easy."

Man Utd v Spurs Match Stats

• Manchester United have reached their 29th major domestic cup final (20 FA Cup, 9 League Cup), more than any other side in English football.
• The Red Devils have reached the FA Cup final in two of the last three seasons, having failed to reach the showpiece in eight consecutive seasons previously.
• Tottenham haven’t lost a single Premier League game in which they’ve led this season, but have now been eliminated from their three other competitions this season in games in which they took the lead (2-3 vs West Ham in the League Cup, 1-2 vs Juventus in the Champions League).
• Spurs also extended their record run of consecutive FA Cup semi-final defeats to eight, last winning one in 1991.
• Romelu Lukaku has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 12 FA Cup appearances (12 goals, 2 assists), including seven in five for Manchester United.
• Alexis Sanchez has scored eight goals in his eight appearances at Wembley for club and country, including six goals in five FA Cup matches.
• Paul Pogba has now recorded 12 assists in all competitions this season – twice as many as he registered last season.
• Christian Eriksen has had a hand in 10 goals in his last six FA Cup appearances for Spurs (3 goals, 7 assists).
• Ander Herrera has scored in each of his last two FA Cup games, as many as he had in his previous 15 in the competition.
• Jose Mourinho has reached his sixth major domestic final in England (2 FA Cup, 4 League Cup), winning each of his previous five.

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