OUR RECORD IN FA CUP SEMI-FINALS

As the countdown continues to Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, take a look at Manchester United's record at this stage of the competition, as well as historic trivia...

RECORD HOLDERS

United have reached 29 FA Cup semi-finals in our history, winning through to the Cup final 20 times and losing 9 of them. Arsenal share that semi-final record with us (and also have an identical record of won 20, lost 9).

THE FIRST TIME

Our first semi-final appearance came in March 1909, when a Harold Halse goal was enough to defeat Newcastle United in front of over 40,000 fans at Bramall Lane.

HOT STREAKS

Of the 13 FA Cup semi-finals United reached from 1976 through to 2007, the Reds won all 13 of them. Our longest run of consecutive semi-final appearances came in the 1960s, when Sir Matt Busby navigated the Reds through to the last-four stage in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966. Sadly it’s not a record that carries too many great memories, as we fell at that hurdle on four of the five occasions, only making it through to a triumphant final appearance in 1963.

REDS’ REPLAYS

In total we’ve played 40 semi-final matches – of our 29 last-four appearances, 10 of those went to replays, with the 1970 match-up with rivals Leeds requiring three ties to settle it, following 0-0 draws in the first two games. Semi-final replays were scrapped for the 1999/00 tournament, which means our epic win over Arsenal at Villa Park in the Treble season was the last ever FA Cup semi-final replay.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Our most common semi-final venue? That would be Villa Park, which has hosted United on last-four duty on 11 occasions (including replays). Second is Hillsborough with nine ties. This weekend’s match with Chelsea will be our sixth FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium, the current permanent home of the semi-finals.

GOALSCORING HEROES

Top scorer for United in semi-finals is Bryan Robson with five goals, who proved he was the man for the big occasion (or the match before the really big occasion) in 1983, 1985 (twice), 1990 and 1994. Second is Sir Bobby Charlton who netted four last-four goals, in 1957 and three over two games in 1958. In total 38 players have scored semi-finals goals for United, from Halse in 1909 through to Ander Herrera against Spurs in 2018.

GIGGSY’S USED TO THE OCCASION

Ryan Giggs played in ten semi-final matches (including replays) for the Reds, between 1994 and 2007.

GIVING CHELSEA THE BLUES

We’ve only faced this weekend’s opponents Chelsea once at this stage – in 1996, when goals from Andy Cole and David Beckham cancelled out Ruud Gullit’s opener and booked a final place with Liverpool. This will be Chelsea’s 24th FA Cup semi-final.

THE FULL RECORD

1909 United 1 Newcastle United 0, Bramall Lane (Halse)
1926 United 0 Manchester City 3, Bramall Lane
1948 United 3 Derby County 1, Hillsborough (Pearson 3)
1949 United 1 Wolves 1, Hillsborough (Mitten) United 0 Wolves 1, Goodison Park
1957 United 2 Birmingham City 0, Hillsborough (Berry, Charlton)
1958 United 2 Fulham 2, Villa Park (Charlton 2), United 5 Fulham 3, Highbury (Dawson 3, Brennan, Charlton)
1962 United 1 Tottenham 3, Hillsborough (Herd)
1963 United 1 Southampton 0, Villa Park (Law)
1964 United 1 West Ham 3, Hillsborough (Law)
1965 United 0 Leeds United 0, Hillsborough, United 0 Leeds United 1, City Ground
1966 United 0 Everton 1, Burnden Park
1970 United 0 Leeds United 0, Hillsborough, United 0 Leeds United 0, Villa Park, United 0 Leeds United 1, Burnden Park
1976 United 2 Derby County 0, Hillsborough (Hill 2)
1977 United 2 Leeds United 1, Hillsborough (Coppell, J Greenhoff)
1979 United 2 Liverpool 2, Maine Road (Jordan, B Greenhoff), United 1 Liverpool 0, Goodison Park (J Greenhoff)
1983 United 2 Arsenal 1, Villa Park (Robson, Whiteside)
1985 United 2 Liverpool 2, Goodison Park (Robson, Stapleton), United 2 Liverpool 1, Maine Road (Robson, Hughes)
1990 United 3 Oldham Athletic 3, Maine Road (Robson, Webb, Wallace), United 2 Oldham Athletic 1, Maine Road (McClair, Robins)
1994 United 1 Oldham Athletic 1, Wembley Stadium (Hughes), United 4 Oldham Athletic 1, Maine Road (Irwin, Kanchelskis, Robson, Giggs)
1995 United 2 Crystal Palace 2, Villa Park (Irwin, Pallister), United 2 Crystal Palace 0, Villa Park (Bruce, Pallister)
1996 United 2 Chelsea 1, Villa Park (Cole, Beckham)
1999 United 0 Arsenal 0, Villa Park, United 2 Arsenal 1, Villa Park (Beckham, Giggs)
2004 United 1 Arsenal 0, Villa Park (Scholes)
2005 United 4 Newcastle 1, Millennium Stadium (van Nistelrooy 2, Scholes, Ronaldo)
2007 United 4 Watford 1, Villa Park (Rooney 2, Ronaldo, Richardson)
2009 United 0 Everton 0, Wembley (Everton won on penalties)
2011 United 0 Manchester City 1, Wembley Stadium
2016 United 2 Everton 1, Wembley Stadium (Fellaini, Martial)
2018 United 2 Tottenham 1, Wembley Stadium (Sanchez, Herrera)