Manchester United 2-1 Tottenham: Ander Herrera sends United to FA Cup final

Manchester United booked their place in the FA Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham in a thrilling encounter at Wembley.

Ander Herrera was the unlikely United hero, firing a 62nd-minute winner after Alexis Sanchez cancelled out Dele Alli's opener in a pulsating first half.

Spurs pushed for a route back into the game but it was heartbreak for Mauricio Pochettino's men as the club's miserable FA Cup semi-final record extended to eight consecutive defeats.

For Jose Mourinho, who will return to Wembley for the final on May 19, former club Chelsea or Southampton stand between him and the fourth trophy of his tenure at Old Trafford.

Player ratings
Man Utd: De Gea (7), Valencia (6), Jones (6), Smalling (7), Young (6), Matic (6), Herrera (8), Pogba (7), Lingard (7), Sanchez (8), Lukaku (7).

Subs: Darmian (5), Fellaini (n/a), Rashford (5).

Tottenham: Vorm (5), Trippier (5), Sanchez (6), Vertonghen (6), Davies (6), Dier (5), Dembele (5), Eriksen (6), Alli (6), Son (5), Kane (5).

Subs: Wanyama (5), Lamela (n/a), Moura (5).

Man of the Match: Alexis Sanchez

Spurs scored inside the first minute of January's Premier League meeting with United and Harry Kane tried to repeat the feat in a blistering start, only to see a 20-yard shot deflect behind for a corner.

United steadied after the early Spurs onslaught only to fall victim to a clinical 11th-minute attack as Christian Eriksen was played in behind the advanced Ashley Young and crossed to set up Alli for the simplest of tap-ins.

Dele Alli celebrates after opening the scoring at Wembley
Dele Alli celebrates after opening the scoring at Wembley
Such was the intensity of Spurs' pressure, United looked on the brink of capitulation, and Kane came within inches of doubling their lead on 14 minutes but he could not stretch enough to connect with Heung-Min Son's deep cross.

United settled again and hit back midway through the half as Paul Pogba outmuscled Mousa Dembele on the left wing, picked out Sanchez with an inch-perfect cross which evaded the Spurs centre-backs, and the Chilean headed home across the stationary Michel Vorm.

Team news
Jose Mourinho made five changes following Man Utd’s win a Bournemouth, with Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Nemanja Matic, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez drafted into the starting line-up. Eric Bailly and Luke Shaw were omitted from the squad completely. Mauricio Pochettino made six changes to the Tottenham side that drew at Brighton. Michel Vorm started in goal instead of Hugo Lloris, with Harry Kane taking the captain’s armband. Kieran Trippier, Davinson Sanchez, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier and Dele Alli were also recalled.

Just like Spurs, United missed the chance for a quick-fire second as Jesse Lingard diverted a Romelu Lukaku cross over within three minutes of the equaliser.

Pogba's swerving effort worried Vorm in the Tottenham goal on 44 minutes seconds before Eric Dier's drive deflected cannoned off the base of the post.

Ander Herrera celebrates with Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic after scoring Manchester United's second goal against Tottenham
Ander Herrera celebrates with Jesse Lingard and Nemanja Matic after scoring Manchester United's second goal against Tottenham
With the stakes so high, both sides approached the second half with trepidation. It wasn't until the 58th minute that the first clear opening arrived, Chris Smalling throwing his body in the way of Kane's drive.

United continued to ask the greater questions, though, and took the lead for the first time where Herrera arrived from nowhere to apply the finishing touch to a flowing counter involving Sanchez and Lukaku.