FA Youth Cup: Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United (3-1 on pens)

Sam Proctor saved two penalties in a thrilling shootout as Aston Villa beat Manchester United to book their place in the FA Youth Cup final.

The goalkeeper tipped Jimmy Thwaites' spot kick onto the post before keeping out Amir Ibragimov, and he watched on as Zac Baumann shot wide with the final kick to send Villa through.

The night had earlier begun in perfect fashion for the hosts when Trai-Varn Mulley reacted quickest to tap home the opener with just four minutes on the clock.

James Scanlon replied for the visitors before Aidan Borland missed from the penalty spot as the match swung from end to end.

Both goalkeepers made terrific saves as chances continued to come and go throughout a goalless second half, while extra-time also passed without either side finding the net.

And while it was left for Proctor to make himself a hero, Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Keilan Quinn and Max Jenner also buried their penalties as the home side were perfect from the spot.

The Young Lions will now aim to win the club’s fifth FA Youth Cup when they face the winner of Watford versus Manchester City in May.

The journey to the final four had seen Jimmy Shan’s team beat Accrington Stanley, Newcastle United, Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle to set up a showdown with the Red Devils.

And they looked in no mood for their run to end at this stage of the competition, grabbing the lead with just four minutes on the clock.

Borland’s free-kick slammed against the United wall but continued to roll forward, allowing Mulley to steal in and poke the ball through the legs of William Murdock.

United responded by keeping the ball well and penning their hosts back, and they eventually got their rewards when an equaliser arrived in the 23^rd minute.

Tyler Fletcher kept a through ball alive ahead of ‘keeper Proctor before pulling it back to the arriving Scanlon, who dispatched the ball between a pair of covering defenders on the goalline.

The likes of Cole Brannigan, Mason Cotcher, and Jimoh-Aloba were causing plenty of problems for the visitors, with the latter winning his side a penalty when he got to a loose ball ahead of a diving Murdock.

Captain Borland stepped up to take the resulting spot kick in front of the North Stand but curled his effort wide of the target.

The half continued to entertain as it drew to a close, with Fletcher striking a post with a low shot from outside the box.

Just as they had in the first half, Villa flew out of the blocks and almost immediately Mason Cotcher saw an effort deflected wide.

The striker came even closer minutes later when his first-time effort from Triston Rowe’s low cross was superbly tipped over by Murdock.

Proctor showed his class with a point-blank block from Chido Obi at the other end, but it was his opposite number that continued to be the busier of the goalkeepers.

A move that started on the edge of the Villa box, and which featured a driving run from Rowe, ended with Jimoh-Aloba cutting back on his right foot and being denied by another stop from Murdock.

The match was swinging from end-to-end as it moved past the 80-minute mark, with Proctor saving his side when he adjusted his feet to get to Zac Baumann’s deflected shot, sticking up a glove to tip it wide.

Tensions continued to rise around the ground, and it was United who came closest to finding a winner in the time that remained when Reece Munro nodded narrowly wide.

Shan roused his team for extra-time, knowing he’d need to rely on the Villans on the pitch having used up all five subs during the 90 minutes.

Obi prodded wide for United before a great chance came the way of Jenner, who skied his shot from six yards out after great work from Ashton McWilliams.

The second half of extra-time produced little action as both sets of players battled fatigue, steeling themselves for what was to come in the penalty shootout.

Villa held their nerve to make it through, scoring all three penalties and watching from the halfway line as Proctor saved two of four spot kicks from United.

The goalkeeper celebrated with a knee slide in front of the fans as his teammates rushed to celebrate making it through to the final. 

Aston Villa: Proctor, Rowe, Routh, Carroll, Fortes (Bloomfield 71’), Borland, Hemmings (Jenner 90+3), Brannigan (Lynskey 71’), Mulley (McWilliams 87’), Jimoh-Aloba, Cotcher (Quinn 87’).

Unused subs: Asemota, Burgess.