5 things learned from Manchester United’s FA Cup semi final victory over Tottenham

Manchester United made into a record-equalling 20th FA Cup semi-final after defeating Tottenham 2-1 yesterday at Wembley. Here are five things we learnt from the match.

Manchester United didn’t start the contest well with Tottenham taking the lead. Dele Alli finished snuck in at the back post past Antonio Valencia to finish off Christian Eriksen’s cross.

However, United struck back. Alexis Sanchez nodded back across the goal after Paul Pogba’s pin-point cross. Sanchez was involved again in United’s second. His pass to Romelu Lukaku found Ander Herrera on the edge of the box, who drilled the ball past Michel Vorm.

Despite a nervy first-half, Jose Mourinho’s me controlled the second half. Spurs didn’t have a sniff. Mainly thanks to Chris Smalling and Phil Jones centre-back partnership who proved again their value in front of England manager, Gareth Southgate.

Phil Jones and Chris Smalling a solid centre-half pairing

Both Jones and Smalling were very good on Wednesday against Bournemouth. Smalling chipping in with a few goals always helps too. But how would they handle one of the world’s best strikers? Well, relatively easily. Kane didn’t have a sniff.

Apart from Jones getting the wrong side of Kane from a Son Heung-min cross early in the first half, the pair were faultless. Neither could be blamed for the goal either. Jones had to come across and cover the front post due to Pogba not tracking his man. And Smalling ran to pick up Kane in the centre, however, it was Antonio Valencia who didn’t track the run of goalscorer Dele Alli.

The pair have often performed well together in the past (towards the end of 2014/15 too). And with England boss Gareth Southgate watching on, they did their chances of boarding the plane to Russia this summer no harm.