FA CUP: United outclass West Ham

Manchester United will face Everton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley after showing class and then character to beat West Ham United.

In the final FA Cup game at Upton Park before the Hammers move to the Olympic Stadium, United manager Louis van Gaal once again engineered a result when he needed it most.

Marcus Rashford gave United the lead in this quarter-final replay after 54 minutes, the 18-year-old collecting a pass from Anthony Martial before curling a magnificent finish into the top corner past West Ham keeper Darren Randolph.

And when Marouane Fellaini bundled in Martial’s cross 13 minutes later it looked all over – only for United to have to face a fierce siege in the closing minutes.

United keeper David de Gea, who gave a virtuoso display, had already saved superbly from Michail Antonio when James Tomkins stooped bravely among flying footwear to head in and give West Ham hope with 11 minutes left.

The hosts finally hammered at United’s defence with De Gea saving once more from Andy Carroll and Cheikhou Kouyate, the latter ruled narrowly offside as he headed in a rebound.

With Wayne Rooney coming on for the final four minutes in his first appearance in two months after a knee injury, it ended as a very satisfactory night for Van Gaal and United.