Hull City to meet Arsenal in FA cup final

Hull City are through to their first FA Cup
final after a scintillating 5-3 victory over
Sheffield United at Wembley set up a date
with Arsenal.
The League One side took the lead when
John Brayford delivered a superb ball into
the area which landed perfectly into the
path of Jose Baxter, who tapped the ball
past keeper Steve Harper.
The scores were levelled just before half-
time when Yannick Sagbo emphatically
finished off a well-worked move, but
United restored the lead moments later
when Stefan Scougall fired high into
Harper's net following a powerful run from
winger Jamie Murphy.
City boss Steve Bruce brought on Sone
Aluko and Matty Fryatt at half-time, and
the latter repaid the faith shown in him by
stroking in an equaliser on the 48th
minute. Five minutes later, Tom
Huddlestone broke into the Blades' box
and curled home a superb third for the
Tigers - sending them in front for the first
time.
Former United winger Stephen Quinn
headed in a fourth on 66 minutes and,
despite Jamie Murphy's late goal for the
Blades, David Meyler netted a fifth which
confirmed Hull's place in the final against
Arsenal on May 17.
The game began at a brisk pace, although
there was more nervous energy on show
than composure on the ball.
But the Blades were palpably up for the
contest and were good value for their
19th-minute opener.
Brayford, a dynamic presence pushing up
from right-back, played provider with a
devilishly-whipped cross from the right
touchline and Baxter did just enough to
turn it home from close range.
The striker nudged ahead of James Chester
to make first contact and the ball squirmed
home with Harper unable to stop it.
Bootle-born Baxter celebrated by kissing
his black armband, worn to mark the 25th
anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster,
and raising it to the sky.
Hull had plenty of time to cope with the
setback but were deeply unimpressive for
20 minutes as they were outscrapped by
United across the park.
Their equaliser, when it arrived in the 42nd
minute, was as clinical as it was
unexpected.
Jake Livermore exchanged a one-two with
Ahmed Elmohamady before finding Sagbo
at the far post with a threaded pass across
goal and the Ivorian made no mistake with
his first-time finish.
Murphy burrowed down the left flank for
United and breezed past Liam Rosenior,
and his cutback from the goal-line was
begging to be buried and Scougall obliged
with a fine finish.
Bruce hooked George Boyd and Maynor
Figueroa at half-time, bolstering his
attacking options with substitutes Fryatt
and Aluko.
A Huddlestone corner fell for Chester and
his mis-hit effort fell kindly for Fryatt, who
stroked home from six yards.
It took a slice of class from Huddlestone to
score the third, when he exchanged passes
with Meyler, shook off the attentions of
Michael Doyle and shuffled the ball from
right to left boot as he reached the penalty
area.
By no means a regular scorer, he had the
finish to match this time as he caressed
the ball into the left corner.
Bruce went to the bench again in the 64th
minute, Quinn replacing Sagbo, and the
Irishman netted almost immediately.
Livermore claimed a second assist of the
day with a dinked cross from the right and
former Blade Quinn left Mark Howard no
chance with a fine header.
At that stage there was a possibility that
Hull could run riot, but that would have
been unfair on Nigel Clough's side.
Indeed United invited yet more late drama
as they poured forward and got their
rewards in the 90th minute.
After pushing Hull deep in their own box
the ball broke for Murphy, who volleyed
home calmly.
The tantalising prospect of extra-time was
briefly dangled but Meyler killed it with
the eighth goal of a memorable day at HQ.