Match ends, Hull City 5, Sheffield United 3.
HullHull City5Sheff UtdSheffield United3
Hull City reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history after they staged a second-half fightback to defeat a spirited Sheffield United in a pulsating semi-final.
The Blades took the lead when Jose Baxter stabbed in, and although Hull levelled through Yannick Sagbo's close-range finish, Stefan Scougall smashed in to restore Nigel Clough's side's lead.
Hull turned the game around early in the second half when substitute Matt Fryatt swept in and Tom Huddlestone scored a classy solo effort before Stephen Quinn headed home.
Jamie Murphy's late strike set up a tense finale but David Meyler sealed the win with a composed finish in injury time.
The result means Hull will return to Wembley on 17 May to play Arsenal in the final.
For 45 minutes, Steve Bruce's side had looked as though they were on course to suffer a shock as the League One Blades twice seized the lead.
But ultimately Bruce's tactical nous paid dividends, with his second-half substitutions transforming the game.
The defeat denied Clough the chance to at least replicate the achievement of his father Brian, who had guided Nottingham Forest to the 1991 FA Cup final, where they were beaten by Tottenham.
But he will undoubtedly be proud of his players' efforts as they showed they were not overawed by Premier League opposition.
United took the game to their opponents from the outset as they hassled and harried the Hull defence, looking for a moment to catch out their higher-division opposition.
That arrived midway through the first half when the ball found its way to John Brayford on the right and the defender crossed low towards the near post where Baxter stuck out a boot to poke the ball beyond Steve Harper and send the Blades' fans wild.
Without cup-tied strike duo Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long, Hull looked toothless in attack and United had little trouble dealing with long balls aimed at Sagbo.
But when the Premier League side finally tried to attack with the ball on the ground, it resulted in an equaliser.
Jake Livermore threaded a fine ball through the defence to give Sagbo time and space to smash a shot into the roof of the net.
For a few moments, it seemed that strike would signal the beginning of the end of United's FA Cup dream but they showed superb spirit to respond immediately, this time Murphy crossing low for Scougall, arriving late into the box, to make no mistake with a ferocious finish.
Bruce responded to his side's poor first-half display by bringing on Fryatt and Sone Aluko for George Boyd and Maynor Figueroa and the changes had an immediate effect as Hull quickly scored twice to stage a remarkable turn-around.
First, James Chester poked the ball to Fryatt inside the area following a corner and the United defenders could not react quickly enough to prevent the striker from sweeping in from four yards.
Bruce, conscious of the fact his side had switched off immediately after their first goal, urged his players to push on straight from the restart and within a matter of minutes Hull took the lead.
This time, Huddlestone raced into the area after playing a one-two with Meyler before clipping the ball confidently beyond the reach of Mark Howard.
By now Hull were firmly in control as Huddlestone's fierce's low drive forced Blades keeper Mark Howard to gather at the second attempt before Meyler headed wide.
Bruce made his third and final change midway through the half and once again it paid dividends as Quinn headed in from Livermore's ball just minutes after coming on against his former club.
That looked to have knocked the fight out of the Blades but there was still time for late drama as Murphy pounced on a loose ball to volley in.
That briefly gave Clough's side hope but moments later Meyler finally ended their giant-killing run when he raced on to Ahmed Elmohamady's through-ball to finish.
Line-ups
Hull
Formation 4-5-1
- 22Harper
- 2Rosenior
- 3FigueroaSubstituted forAlukoat 45'minutes
- 8Huddlestone
- 5Chester
- 6Davies
- 27El Mohamady
- 7MeylerBooked at 14mins
- 20SagboSubstituted forQuinnat 64'minutes
- 14Livermore
- 17BoydSubstituted forFryattat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Bruce
- 10Koren
- 12Fryatt
- 16Jakupovic
- 23Faye
- 24Aluko
- 29Quinn
Sheff Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Howard
- 4Brayford
- 3HarrisSubstituted forHillat 90+4'minutes
- 17Coady
- 5Maguire
- 15Collins
- 7Flynn
- 8Doyle
- 11BaxterSubstituted forDaviesat 83'minutes
- 21ScougallSubstituted forPorterat 83'minutes
- 23Murphy
Substitutes
- 6Hill
- 9Porter
- 14McGinn
- 22Davies
- 25Long
- 28Freeman
- 32Kennedy
- Referee:
- Andre Marriner
- Attendance:
- 71,820
Match Stats
Home TeamHullAway TeamSheff Utd
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home4
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hull City 5, Sheffield United 3.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Matthew Hill replaces Robert Harris.
Goal!
Goal! Hull City 5, Sheffield United 3. David Meyler (Hull City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ahmed Elmohamady with a through ball following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Harry Maguire (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Davies.
Post update
Attempt blocked. John Brayford (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Goal!
Goal! Hull City 4, Sheffield United 3. Jamie Murphy (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Flynn (Sheffield United) header from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Murphy.
Post update
Attempt saved. Sone Aluko (Hull City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jake Livermore.
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Offside, Hull City. Matty Fryatt tries a through ball, but Sone Aluko is caught offside.
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Stephen Quinn (Hull City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Michael Doyle (Sheffield United).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Ben Davies replaces Jose Baxter.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Chris Porter replaces Stefan Scougall.
Post update
Sone Aluko (Hull City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Harry Maguire (Sheffield United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Sone Aluko (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stephen Quinn following a fast break.
Post update
Foul by Sone Aluko (Hull City).
Post update
Conor Coady (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan Flynn (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jamie Murphy.
