Manchester United has the chance to end a 14-year wait for FA Cup success when Louis van Gaal’s squad take on Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Despite dominating domestically throughout Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure, the FA Cup has largely eluded the Red Devils since the turn of the century after three wins in the 1990s. The lone exception being 2004, a 3-0 triumph against Milwall.
A fresh-faced Cristiano Ronaldo broke the resistance of the spirited first division outfit (now known as the Championship) on 44 minutes, before Ruud van Nistelrooy bagged a second half brace to hand United a relatively comfortable win, and its 11th success in association football’s oldest competition.
It’s been an arduous road since, but here’s United’s road to Wembley for the 2016 FA Cup final.
Third round – Manchester United 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Wayne Rooney’s stoppage time penalty denied the Blades a replay and handed United a highly unconvincing victory in a match they were expected to win comfortably.
Van Gaal’s outfit only managed two shots on target throughout including Rooney’s converted penalty, which further angered the United faithful after a disastrous December.
One day to go! 🏆 #emiratesfacup https://t.co/wzydtfGbKq
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) May 20, 2016
Fourth round – Derby County 1-3 Manchester United
This was an improved performance from the Red Devils. Wayne Rooney’s 20 yard curler put his side ahead before George Thorne bursting run from midfield got the Rams back level.
Daley Blind then finished low into the net from Jesse Lingard’s cross before Juan Mata sealed victory. Anthony Martial lifted the Reds with two assists in a man of the match performance.
Fifth round – Shrewsbury Town 0-3 Manchester United
Van Gaal’s men made easy work of the league one outfit, knowing that a loss would almost certainly cost the manager his job.
Consecutive 2-1 defeats to Sunderland and FC Midtjylland preceded this match, but goals to Chris Smalling and Mata settled the nerves, before Jesse Lingard added another on the hour mark to earn United a place in the final eight.
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Quarter final – Manchester United 1-1 West Ham United
Martial’s late equaliser earned Manchester United an FA Cup quarter-final replay at West Ham after Dimitri Payet’s truly magnificent free-kick threatened to dump Van Gaal’s side out of the competition.
David De Gea withstood a barrage of West Ham pressure throughout, making a succession of saves and clearances.
Quarter final replay – West Ham United 1-2 Manchester United
Marcus Rashford’s early stunner floored the Hammers, and Marouane Fellaini added another in the second half to put United in a commanding position at what was to be Upton Park’s final FA Cup fixture before the club relocates to the newly built Olympic Stadium.
After James Tomkins made the score 2-1, the remaining 20 minutes saw the hosts throw the proverbial kitchen sink at United, with De Gea busy as ever. None were more gilt-edged for the Hammers than Cheikhou Kouyate and Andy Carroll’s efforts which the Spaniard parried to deny the rampant hosts.
Semi final – Everton 1-2 Manchester United
Martial’s stoppage time winner booked United a place in the final. Chris Smalling’s own-goal five minutes from time, cancelling out Marouane Fellaini’s opener.
De Gea saved a Romelu Lukaku penalty on 56 minutes with United a goal ahead. Everton took time to find their groove, but did so in the dying stages. After a spell of Everton pressure, Martial’s burst against the run of play saw the Frenchman punish Roberto Martinez’s team, still reeling from a 4-0 Merseyside derby loss mid-week.
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