ROMELU LUKAKU SCORED his 25th goal of the season as Manchester United beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 in a tight game at Old Trafford to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
United needed a reaction after Tuesday’s surprise exit to Sevilla in the Champions League, and manager Jose Mourinho opted to leave star names Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez on the bench.
Mourinho told his players to “grow up” during an extraordinary pre-match news conference but the hosts produced another tepid display on Saturday, edging out the determined Seagulls to progress.
Lukaku maintained his record of scoring in every round of this season’s FA Cup, the Belgium international powering in a header from Nemanja Matic’s perfect cross.
Brighton sporadically threatened but the visitors lacked cutting edge in attack, Jurgen Locadia missing a handful of chances including a fine opportunity from a deep Solly March centre.
The Red Devils had lost three of their last four FA Cup quarter-finals but Matic headed in an Ashley Young cross late on to secure victory for Mourinho as the Portuguese seeks a second FA Cup crown, having last won the tournament in 2007 when Chelsea beat United in the final.
Lukaku would later prove decisive but he turned Antonio Valencia’s cross wide as United made a low-tempo start.
The hosts finally worked a clear opening in the 29th minute as Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard rapidly swapped passes, the Spain international seeing his shot deflect wide.
And United struck the outside of the post from the resulting corner, Tim Krul turning a Chris Smalling effort on to the woodwork.
Brighton then forced the first save from Sergio Romero as the game bubbled to life, United’s reserve goalkeeper beating away a Lewis Dunk header.
But Lukaku has a terrific FA Cup record and he scored his 12th goal in his last 11 appearances in the competition to give United the lead in the 37th minute.
Luke Shaw’s driving run created space down the left and Matic’s whipped cross was perfect for Lukaku to crash home a back-post header.
Beram Kayal teed up Pascal Gross in the 51st minute but the midfielder’s 20-yard strike did not curl enough to beat the post, before Romero had to be alert to gather a Locadia drive.
Romero was soon called into action again, Valencia’s poor clearing header inviting Locadia to shoot but the Argentina international was equal to the striker’s effort, diving high to his right.
Locadia was proving a handful but he should have done better with a headed chance after March beat Young and delivered a deep right-wing cross to the back post.
Hughton threw on Brighton’s top goalscorer Glenn Murray for the closing stages but Mourinho’s men sealed victory with seven minutes left, their only attempt of the second half resulting in Matic nodding home Young’s free-kick to secure a last-four berth.
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Aul Pele talks a lot of shi*#e most of the time in fairness
Dementia must be setting in
Pele before the 1994 World Cup: ‘Watch Columbia’(They were on the first plane home), ‘An African Nation will win the world cup before the end of the century(Not sure he realised there was only one more world cup between 1994 and the end of the century)
Marodona is better than pele. No reason
Who did marodona play with?
Sligo rovers?
In 1994 he said Norway would win the World cup.
When we all know it was north Korea. They’ve won every one before, and every one after. Our dear leader said so.
Go Home Pele you’re drunk.
Yes he’s an icon for his playing ability but no one takes any notice of what this fella says. He never makes any sense. Neymar is becoming world class and should become a great player. But he will never even touch the levels of brilliance Messi hits on a bad day.
Ronaldo is better
Pele is a clown, he seems to think that you cannot be judged as the greatest if you don’t win the World Cup, even though it only comes around every four years and most players aren’t fortunate enough to be born German or Brazilian. The man is just clutching at straws, the greatest show on earth is the Champions League but that bitter old fool just can’t accept it because he never played club football out of the Americas.
Maradona was better than Pele anyway but surely now Messi and Ronaldo deserve their place at the very top of the greatest footballers ever.
Can’t help wondering whether the great man actually watched the World Cup. Messi had some great moments while ronaldo was a petulant child on the greatest stage. I know he was injured but his attitude was awful.
Nasser Al Shamrani well be best player this year
He also said that Emre would become one of the best players in the world.
Messi is king of football and father of penaldo
…..
That relic is still hanging around??
I don’t think it’s right to say “Ronaldo is better than Messi” or visa versa. They are both amazing players. Two of the best to ever grace the game. To say one is better than the other is nuts. They are two different types of brilliant.
Pele would want to shut the F up
He had El Hadji Diouf in his top 100 as well