View from the Wembley press box

ManUtd.com reporter Josh Kerr was at Wembley to provide an alternative take on Manchester United’s Emirates FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham Hotspur…

After a scorching day in London, conditions inside Wembley were very muggy until a spot of rain fell during the warm-up. That downpour helped take some of the heat out of the air, but by no means the atmosphere.

With a greasy pitch and slightly cooler temperatures, we had the perfect conditions for a great game of football.

As the teams left the tunnel, Wembley erupted with the much-anticipated match just moments away and hearty cheers followed each name as the teams were announced for the final time.

Although Wembley has hosted Tottenham’s Premier League matches this season, United have as good a case as any to claim the national stadium as a second home, this being our 51st appearance here in all competitions.

As the match kicked off, 35,000 United fans joined a chorus of ‘20 Times Man Utd’, loudly out-singing their Tottenham counterparts as a sea of red faced off with a blanket of white.

The Tottenham fans certainly hadn’t forgotten that Alexis Sanchez was once a member of the red side of north London, booing and jeering whenever he was on the ball.

Having seen a number of decisions not go United’s way in the opening exchanges, an ironic cheer erupted from the United fans when a foul on Paul Pogba was finally given.

Dele Ali’s opener had the Reds on the back foot and the nerves on the pitch were beginning to radiate to the stands, but the Red Army soon found their voice again, defiantly supporting the side despite the goal deficit.

And who else would draw United level but Alexis? Spurs fans’ hearts must have sunk when they saw the Chilean rise to net a beautiful header. The Reds in Wembley went mad; it was game on.

It was a fast and ferocious first half and even Mauricio Pochettino was struggling to keep his cool as he erupted on the touchline, having seen a throw-in decision not go his team’s way.

Before the break, both sets of supporters were off their seats thinking they had the lead, with Eric Dier rattling the post, but level is how the half would finish.

The feeling in the press box at half-time was that the match could go either way. In the concourse it was much the same: there was an atmosphere of nerves, but belief Jose Mourniho’s men could go on and win it.

When Ander Herrera netted what would ultimately prove to be the winner, the red flags were flying high inside Wembley, while Pochettino could only put his head in his hands.

You could hear a pin drop in the Spurs end, while, right in front, the United players were celebrating as the Reds faithful sang ‘Glory, Glory, Man Utd’ with all their hearts.

As time ticked away, the game became more tense – nobody was leaving this one early. As five minutes of added time were announced, United fans cried out in dismay. Just hold on.

The tension evaporated as the final whistle went and red roars echoed around the stadium. United had earned a place in the FA Cup final.

Spurs’ fans made a hasty getaway, while the United supporters were all on their feet applauding the team’s efforts, and maybe one of two of them were already dreaming about returning here next month.

A wonderful end to a wonderful game of football. What will the final bring?