Sunderland have reached their first Cup Final for thirty years after a hard fought win away on a Penalty shootout away at Manchester United.
The Weirside club carried a 2-1 lead going into the second leg at Old Trafford, as Poyet’s side looked to mount a strong performance against a vunerable Manchester United side.
A poor penalty shootout culminated with Vito Mannone keeping out a tame Rafael spot kick as Sunderland advanced.
United went into the game in barrent form, after slipping down to seventh in the Premief League table, with David Moyes feeling the pressure in his first season in charge of the Old Trafford outfit.
Manchester United started off well, as Adnan Januzaj turned Marcos Alonso, but saw his shot well saved by Vito Mannone, who would go on to have a very busy night.
Januzaj was toying with the Sunderland defence, forcing fouls from both Alonso and Phil Bardsley, as the Reds looked to dictate the play in front of their own supporters.
Mannone was at hand to keep the visitors in the tie, after he got down well to keep away Javier Hernandez’ freekick, which skimmed along the Old Trafford turf, as Moyes’ men looked to press, in a must win game.
Sunderland had a hold of the game following United’s pressure, and could have had the lead after just ten minutes, after Ki Seung Yeung collected a lose ball, before skipping Jonny Evans and crashed a shot, which went just wide of the post, with Poyet’s side signalling their intentions in the clash.
The mood at Old Trafford would had been lifted by news seeping through that Juan Mata was arriving from Chelsea for £37 million, and would be having a medical today, which spilled onto the pitch, as Danny Welbeck saw his shot go just over Mannone’s bar.
Sunderland also had their chances, with Adam Johnson and Borini a threat, as their huge throng of support roared them on, with Johnson seeing his shot well saved by David De Gea.
Hernandez then saw his shot beaten away by Mannone, as Sunderland hung on for dear life.
United then had the goal they were craving, after 37 minutes, as centre back Jonny Evans took advantage of some poor defending from a corner, and headed into an unguarded goal past the desparing dive of Mannone.
Jozy Altidore and Jack Colback both wasted opportunities, as Sunderland, backed by 9,000 supporters from the North East looked to get an equaliser to take them to the promise land, Wembley.
Moyes partnered Javier Hernández and Danny Welbeck in attack, although the Englishman was slightly withdrawn at times, as Sunderland’s back four remaind calm under the intense pressure of the Old Trafford crowd.
Johnson, nicknamed the ‘City reject’ by the Old Trafford support was toying with the vunerable Buttner, and forced another impressive stop from David De Gea.
Borini then saw his fierce shot well blocked by defender Chris Smalling, as Fabio Borini crashed just over the bar, as the Old Trafford nerves were clearly showing.
Hernandez then collected the ball off the impressive Januzuj, before going one on one against Mannone, before crashing wide.
Ten minutes after half time, Janazuj skipped past Bardsley, before releasing a 30 yard screamer, heading towards the bottom corner, as Mannone scampered to keep the ball away.
Borini then shot just wide with twenty five minutes to go, as Sunderland looked to maintain their advantage.
Valencia jinked past Hernandez, who headed just wide of Mannone’s post.
Johnson had his goal bound effort blocked by Buttner, before Marcos Alonso gave De Gea has worrying moment with just twelve minutes left.
In the final minute of the game, Hernandez beat Alonso to the ball, before shooting just wide of the post, as Sunderland hung on for extra time.
At the start of extra time, Januzuj looked to loop the ball into the top corner, but Mannone backtracked towards his line to retrieve the ball.
Welbeck then shot straight at Mannone, while up at the other end Johnson saw his shot curl just wide of the post.
After a first half of few chances, the second half of extra time was one to remember, as Sunderland equalised on the night, taking the lead in the tie, after a horror mistake ferom De Gea, who spilled a Daisy cutter from Bardsley into his own net, to send the 9,000 fans into raptures.
But just a minute later, Januzaj found space and whipped a teasing ball into a crowded box, with Hernandez sticking a boot out, and toepoking home past Mannone to take it to spot kicks.
The shootout would be hardly be a thriller, with Johnson skying wide, before Darren Fletcher lashed home, with Alonso curling home coolly to make it 1-1 in the shootout.
Januzaj then scuffed his penalty into the grateful arms of Mannone, Ki Seung Yueng then bashed the ball home to the other side of De Gea, Phil Jones and Johnson both missed their spot kicks, before Mannone palmed Rafael’s spot kick away to send Sunderland to Wembley.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
