MANCHESTER UNITED supporters spotted David De Gea “doing an Emi Martinez” seconds before Brighton’s Solly March missed the crucial penalty in the FA Cup semi-final.
After a tense 120 minutes, the clash headed into a penalty shoot-out following the Wembley stalemate.
TWITTERDavid De Gea was spotted scuffing the penalty spot before Solly March’s miss[/caption]
The Brighton star blazed his kick high over the crossbarRichard Pelham / The Sun
Victor Lindelof was the hero as he sealed a 7-6 shoot-out victory.
Alexis Mac Allister scored first for Brighton, Pascal Gross followed suit, Deniz Undav notched the third, Pervis Estupinan calmly slotted the fourth and captain Lewis Dunk made it five from five.
Casemiro rolled home United’s opening kick, Diogo Dalot repeated the trick, Jadon Sancho rifled in the third, Rashford scored the fourth and Marcel Sabitzer completed a perfect five for United to send it to sudden death.
Adam Webster was first up for Brighton and sent De Gea the wrong way and Wout Weghorst did the same for Erik ten Hag’s men.
Solly March then skied the seventh for Brighton – leaving Victor Lindelof to step forward and book United’s place at Wembley in the final against Man City.
However, eagle-eyed fans had initially spotted United striker Wout Weghorst kissing the ball after scoring as he handed it March before the Brighton star’s spot-kick.
Now footage has emerged of De Gea engaging in some dark arts of his own as he scuffed the penalty spot while his rival was making his way forward.
And fans were quick to compare his antics with Argentina World Cup winner Martinez’s before they beat France in the final back in December.
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One tweeted: “De Gea stepping on the penalty spot xD Love the sh**housery.”
Another wrote: “Werghost distracted the ref with that kiss so De Gea can scuff the penalty spot, this is 8D chess.”
Another said: “That penalty spot move by De Gea.”
As a fellow supporter commented: “Did you see what De Gea and Weghorst did there?
“1. Weghorst handed the ball to March instead of his own GK.
“2. De Gea kicked the penalty spot and intimidated March.
“And he missed – this is a tactic employed by the best penalty savers (Emi Martinez).”
United will now face City at Wembley in the final on June 3.