FA Cup
Result: Manchester United 1-2 Arsenal
Date: 09 March 2015
Venue: Old Trafford
Arsenal booked their spot in the semi-finals of the FA Cup after beating Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford on Monday night.
The opening 20 minutes failed to provide any goal-mouth action, although Louis Van Gaal's side dominated the possession statistics.
It was Arsenal who broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, as some great work by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set up Nacho Monreal, who showed good composure to slot past David de Gea.
However, United leveled matters three minutes later courtesy of well-taken header from Wayne Rooney, after the striker was delightfully picked out by Angel di Maria.
Di Maria came close to giving United the lead just before the halftime break, the Argentine latched onto a pass from Antonio Valencia, before forcing Wojciech Szczesny into a low save at the near post.
Arsenal restored their lead after the hour mark, as Danny Welbeck pounced on Valencia's poor back pass before rounding De Gea and slotting into an empty net.
Chirs Smalling should have equalised minutes later but the defender placed his effort over the bar from six-yards out.
The home side were then reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute, as Di Maria was shown two yellow cards in the space of 30 seconds, firstly for simulation, and secondly grabbing the referee's shirt in reaction to the first yellow.
United went in search of the equaliser in the closing stages of the half but could not create any clear cut openings, as the Gunners' defence of their FA Cup crown continues.
Semi-Final Draw:
Aston Villa v Liverpool/Blackburn Rovers
Bradford City/Reading v Arsenal
