It's Sancheers from Alexis as United reach the FA Cup Final.

It's Sancheers from Alexis as United reach the FA Cup Final.

The last Chileans to make a song and dance during the FA Cup Final were the Robledo brothers for Newcastle United during the 1950s. Yesterday Alexis Sanchez gave the Chilean tourist board its biggest publicity boost as Sanchez was instrumental in the downfall of  Spurs who, for perhaps the first time in their temporary Wembley home, looked distinctly uncomfortable.

 Those sofa cushions never really looked the right fit and that kitchen wasn't nearly as spacious as their old one. Still, Spurs suffered one of those rare off days when the kettle simply refused to work and that central heating system had to be replaced. And that boiler was rattling away making the most disturbing of noises so all was certainly not well for Tottenham. Suffice it to say their FA Cup semi Final against Manchester United had an almost after the Lord Mayor's show feel about it for the North London side.

For the eighth time in succession Spurs fell over a bucket of water when it would have been easier to just move the bucket away in the first place. Manchester United, who have just struck a rich vein of winning form despite last weekend's banana skin slip at the hands of bottom of the table West Bromwich Albion, have reached their second FA Cup Final in three years and have something really useful to fall back on while their city neighbours do their utmost to rub their collective noses in it.

The age old mutual loathing between Manchester City and United is almost as old as time itself but although City are still gloating at their Premier League coronation United can still find a cosy piece of furniture to sink into. The FA Cup may well soften the blow for Manchester United and manager Jose Mourinho, although far from being overly delighted, will frown and fret at the way United could have been in City's place without going through all that hassle and aggravation of labouring through those tiresome FA Cup rounds. Still, as they say, beggars can't be choosers and United go back to Wembley for the FA Cup Final on May 19 with the scent of glory wafting through their red noses.

Yesterday it seemed to take ages for Tottenham to get their bearings right and by the time the discovery had been made, United were coasting towards victory rather like a barge on a canal. For the home side  this was Spurs at their most muddled, awkward and incoherent, a stuttering and pedestrian performance that emphasised some unnerving defensive weaknesses. Spurs could never really get going properly at any time throughout this flowing, gripping and intriguing FA Cup semi Final.

For the first time in what seems an age, Wembley Stadium did sound genuinely atmospheric and vocal, a throwback to the old days at the old Wembley Stadium when 100,000 was the capacity and the Cup Final had marching bands followed by 'Abide With Me' to look forward to. But both Spurs and Manchester United really did make a raucous racket with an electrifying noise coming from both ends of the pitch. At long last somebody had determinedly turned up the volume without a hint of self  consciousness.

But even with home advantage Spurs seemed to be dwelling almost fondly on this season's Premier League achievements. It had been reported before the game that Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino had little or no interest in the FA Cup heavily prioritising both the Premier League and Champions League although as the season has unfolded both became realistically beyond their reach. Then an air of dreadful complacency has set in and Spurs have now found that only a top four place can salvage their season.

Regrettably the year hasn't been at its most obliging for Spurs and although that year hasn't ended in a one perhaps 2018 will bring other more lucrative compensations. A place in the Champions League next season could be the platform Tottenham were really looking to establish themselves on and besides the new White Hart Lane is ready and waiting to be unveiled in August. The huge money spinning benefits to be yielded by Champions League qualification for Spurs can hardly be underestimated.

Spurs strong defensive spine of Kieran Trippier, Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez and Mousa Dembele saw stars in front of their eyes and promptly lost their focus. Throughout the season all four have featured regularly and positively at the back for Spurs. But yesterday they were frequently jolted out of their stride, almost embarrassingly flat footed and never really came to grips with United's quick thinking, quick witted attacking force.

From the start it did seem as if Spurs would grab United by the scruff of their neck and drive home their attacking supremacy. Dele Alli, one of Spurs most vivid, lively and vibrant players, began to trick his way through an often static Manchester United defence. Now Spurs made their decisive breakthrough. A long, floated ball down an exposed United flank found Christian Eriksen whose  perfectly driven cross found Alli who lunged at the ball before steering the ball comfortably past the United keeper David De Gea. Spurs were a goal ahead before Jose Mourinho had had time to produce a snarl.

This was now the springboard and catalyst for a wave of United counter attacks which swarmed forward in ever increasing circles. Suddenly Spurs were now pinned to the ropes, marooned at sea, grasping at anything, clinging on for dear life. The Mourinho psychology was beginning to take effect. It seemed that the intensity of Mourinho's stare, the brooding face and the menacing glare would spark United into life. It did and Spurs were now in hasty retreat.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were now galloping forward into huge acres of Wembley's hallowed turf. The now exceptional talent of Paul Pogba was exerting the most powerful influence on this FA Cup semi Final. Pogba was rather like a man who'd just been given the keys to the door whereupon a treasure chest is found in the dirt and dust. The Frenchman could well be the midfield enforcer and natural creator of goals United have been looking for. Now Pogba returned the astronomical millions spent on him with some of the most stirring displays in a Manchester United shirt.

Then there was the evergreen Ashley Young, at 32, still capable of holding his team together, forever economical in his choice of passes and never afraid to lead by example. It is hard to believe that the former Watford winger is still running around like a young gelding in a field and not for a moment did Young look out of place. Nemanja Matic, the former Chelsea defensive holding midfielder gave United a shining gloss and lustre that somehow made United look complete. Matic gingerly sidestepped challenges with all the lightness of touch and devil may care dexterity of a player much younger than himself.

But it was up front that United were regaining their foothold on the game. When Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku were joining forces and methodically ripping up Spurs now feeble resistance, the game had tilted back in United's favour. United equalised shortly after an incessant attacking bombardment and were now on the front foot rather than the back. Alexis Sanchez powered his header into the back of the net from an inch perfect cross from the ingenious Paul Pogba.

From a lightning sequence of short, snappy passes the ball was quickly shuttled across Spurs teetering back line. Ander Herrera was now looking almost unplayably dangerous every time he touched the ball. The ball was slipped to Alexis Sanchez and after the easiest of touches from Lukaku,  Herrera  made no mistake with a thumping shot that whistled past Spurs keeper Michel Vorm. United were now in their element and threatened to run away with the game from that point onwards. It was now no coincidence that former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was watching his former charges with a smug look of self satisfaction on his face.

And so it was that Spurs narrowly missed out on another FA Cup Final and suddenly the ghosts of 1991 are beginning to haunt Tottenham. True, there are no Paul Gascoignes in Spurs ranks but then this may have been considered as something of a relief. Gazza did polarise opinion and the extremes of his behaviour may have worked against the present day Spurs team.

Unfortunately this was not to be the kind of day that Spurs must have been hoping for and now Manchester United will now renew acquaintance with Chelsea in a repeat of the 1994 FA Cup Final. That day United simply steamrollered Chelsea with a barnstorming 4-0 win in steady rain. There is a sense from a neutral viewpoint that some of the more recent FA Cup Finals are turning into replicate photocopies. How ironic that Mourinho is facing the club who launched his career in English football. Maybe just maybe Mourinho will manage the briefest and most private of chuckles. Only football's most proficient of script writers could have planned it this way. Cheer up Jose.