Source: Eurosport
Howard's way for spot-on Toffees
Tim Howard was Everton's hero as he helped them reach the FA Cup final after a 4-2 win on penalties followed a 0-0 draw with Manchester United.Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand were Howard's victims as Leighton Baines, Phil Neville, James Vaughan and Phil Jagielka kept their cool for the Toffees in their semi-final showdown at Wembley.
And it is David Moyes' side who return to the national stadium to play Chelsea in the final on Saturday May 30.Tim Cahill had missed from the spot for Everton with the opening penalty, before United's two misses, while Nemanja Vidic and Anderson successfully converted for United after 120 minutes of largely-uneventful football had failed to settle the match.
United were the first to show their teeth in normal time when Danny Welbeck linked well with Federico Macheda, but when the ball broke to Carlos Tevez, his shot drifted wide.But United were grateful for a bit of good fortune when Ben Foster's clearance was charged down by Louis Saha, with the ball falling kindly for Foster to gather.
Ji-Sung Park then saw a goalbound drive well blocked as United began to turn up the heat, but there was no way through as a disappointing first half petered to a close.Everton started the second period in a determined mood with Cahill's ferocious drive pushed away by Foster, while at the other end Park's effort flashed inches wide.
Darron Gibson's 25-yard strike then forced Howard to parry the ball out at the expense of a corner, while Welbeck was controversially denied what appeared to be a clear penalty when he went down under Jagielka's mistimed challenge.
Anderson then arrowed a 20-yard drive of his own just wide, and Welbeck curled another shot a yard over as the match drifted towards extra time.Everton started the additional 30 minutes more lively with Cahill's shot forcing Foster to save with his legs, while in the second period Baines' cross was touched goalwards by Vaughan only to be deflected wide by Vidic.
But there was no way through for either side as 120 minutes of football failed to separate the teams.And it was Everton who kept their cool from the spot, with Howard proving the difference to help the Merseysiders reach their first cup final since 1995.
