HULL CITY VS SHEFFIELD UNITED 5-3: Goals and highlights FA Cup Semi Final HD
Hull City edged an eight-goal thriller at
Wembley to make it through to their first-ever
FA Cup Final at the expense of
League One Sheffield United.
Trailing 2-1 at the break, four second-half strikes from
Matty Fryatt,
Tom Huddlestone,
Stephen Quinn and
David Meyler completed a stirring comeback.
Nigel Clough's
Blades had impressed and shocked in equal measure during their run to the last four, a run which had accounted for
Aston Villa and
Fulham in the earlier rounds.
They were aiming to become the first side from the third tier to reach
The Cup Final since the formation of the
Football League in
1888.
And they appeared on course to complete their historic mission when
Jose Baxter and
Stefan Scougall each steered home low crosses to cancel out
Yannick Sagbo's first-half strike.
Bruce made a double change at the break, bringing on Fryatt and
Sone Aluko for
George Boyd and
Maynor Figueroa, and his team reaped the reward, scoring three times in 18 minutes to effectively set up a showpiece clash with
Arsenal next month.
Jamie Murphy pulled a goal back for
United in the final minute, but Meyler had the final say by completing the scoring in added time.
The opening quarter of this Semi-Final, the 900th match to be played at
Wembley Stadium, sailed by without incident -- save for
Huddlestone's speculative effort from the halfway line that
Mark Howard gathered comfortably. However, the remaining 70 minutes more than made up for a lacklustre start.
Both sets of supporters were in terrific voice in the April sunshine, and there was arguably more going on in the stands than on the pitch early on -- until
Baxter lit the touch paper for a breathless hour of action.
The Blades won a throw-in deep in the
Hull half, the bearded
John Brayford delivered a low centre and former
Everton forward Baxter, who helped
Oldham knock out
Liverpool in last season's
Fourth Round, stole in at the near post ahead of
James Chester to direct the ball home -- and send the hoards of red-and-white-shirted fans wild at the far end of the ground.
United grew in confidence and a passage of passing midway through the first half had their fans 'Ole-ing'.
However, unable to capitalise on their dominance, the
Bramall Lane outfit were
undone by a magnificent piece of play from
Jake Livermore. With the interval approaching, the
Tottenham loanee dissected the United defence with a wonderful through ball to the far post which Sagbo plundered into the roof of the net for the equaliser.
City's joy was very short-lived, though, as United responded immediately. Murphy did brilliantly to scamper down the left flank, past two Hull defenders, and sent a ball into the box which Scougall lashed home from six yards out to give the Blades a deserved half-time advantage.
But the half-time changes paid dividends for Hull, who were on top straight from the restart.
Fryatt levelled four minutes into the second half, turning home from close range after
Chester's miscued shot fell invitingly for him just a few yards out.
The substitute thought he had a quick-fire second until he turned round to see the assistant's flag raised for offside.
The third goal did come just moments later. Huddlestone played a neat one-two with Meyler, skipped into the box and placed a left-foot curler beyond
Howard's desperate dive.
Tom Huddlestone slots home for Hull
Tom Huddlestone slots home after dancing through the Blades defence
And another substitute,
Quinn, seemingly put the game beyond United when he nodded home
Livermore's cross just after the hour mark, but the impressive Murphy gave his side the faintest of hopes when he smashed home in the final minute.
The Blades were in full voice once more, urging their team to pull off a remarkable draw, but Hull broke away and Meyler slotted home in added time to seal victory.
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