Howard saved United’s first two spot-kicks from Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand ater a turgid semifinal ended 0-0 after extra time at Wembley Stadium.

Everton will return to Wembley for the final on May 30 against Chelsea, who beat Arsenal 2-1 in Saturday’s first semifinal.

Everton defender Phil Jagielka scored the winning penalty, blasting the ball past goalkeeper Ben Foster to inflict United’s first defeat in an FA Cup semifinal since 1970.

United manager Alex Ferguson gambled by playing a largely reserve side and defeat ended the European champions’ hopes of winning an unprecedented five major trophies this season.

“It was a tough game for us. Man United, whoever they play, they could put out their under-14′s and it would have been a tough game because they play to win every competition that they are in,” Everton manager David Moyes said in a televised interview.

“I thought we kept at it, I thought we could have played better at times but Man United made it difficult for us.”

The match itself was largely devoid of inspiration with neither team gaining control and play largely meandering around the midfield.

Everton had half a chance when Foster dallied too long on a loose ball and almost lost it to former United striker Louis Saha whose attempt at goal slammed into the goalkeeper’s chest.

United threatened after 23 minutes when Everton defender Joleon Lescott deflected a shot just wide of his own goal.

United’s unfamiliar line-up largely spluttered on the stodgy Wembley pitch and twice good moves down the right ended in disappointment when young striker Danny Welbeck failed to deliver a decent cross.

It was not until the 54th minute when Everton midfielder Tim Cahill had a shot on target that either goalkeeper was forced into a genuine save, and even then Foster was hardly troubled by the Australian’s long-range shot.

Carlos Tevez and Park ji-Sung never stopped working for United in midfield but Federico Macheda, the 17-year-old Italian who has scored two vital late goals as A substitute in recent league matches, was virtually anonymous on his full debut.

United appealed furiously for a penalty after 68 minutes when Welbeck appeared to be clattered by defender Jagielka and Ferguson was enraged when referee Mike Riley ruled there had been no infringement.

In the shootout, Cahill blasted Everton’s first penalty over the bar but Howard saved Berbatov’s lazy effort and Everton went ahead when Leighton Baines scored. Howard saved from Ferdinand and former United defender Phil Neville made it 2-0 to Everton.

Nemanja Vidic and Anderson both found the net for United but James Vaughan and Jagielka held their nerve to clinch victory for Everton.

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Ferguson, whose team are also in the Uefa Champions League last-16, certainly believes he has the squad to attempt a clean-sweep.

After making seven changes against Derby including relegating Nemanja Vidic to the bench and leaving out Dimitar Berbatov entirely, the Scot is determined to give himself every chance of keeping his team fresh for the run-in. “The squad has been fantastic. They have carried us through and got us through some difficult games,” said Ferguson whose team have been drawn against either Swansea or Fulham in the FA Cup last eight.

“With the game on Wednesday in mind I made some changes and the squad did very well again. That is encouraging and we are delighted to be in the next round of the FA Cup. It would have been nice to have a home draw, but we are one game away from the semifinal and that should give everyone a great incentive. I hope the squad can maintain the levels they have hit in the last few weeks, but I saw Swansea play very, very well against Fulham in the first game and that tie is far from finished.”

Derby manager Nigel Clough has been up close and personal with United more than any other manager recently. Since taking charge six weeks ago this was his third encounter with the European champions and after the way United breezed over their latest hurdle, Clough thinks people should begin to take their quintet quest far more seriously.

“It is possible that they can do all five. That was the most impressive performance they have put in against us. They are almost impossible to prepare for and when you look at the players they have to add to that squad and come back,” Clough said.

“It is a very difficult thing to do and would be unprecedented, but they looked very good indeed and if anyone can do it they can. If they had played Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool today they could have put four goals past them as well. That is how good they were.”

Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of United’s goals from a relatively rare outing in a central striking role, to add to others from Darron Gibson, Portuguese winger Nani and substitute Danny Welbeck, while Miles Addison got one back for Derby.

Despite Ronaldo’s impressive partnership with Ryan Giggs, Ferguson has no plans to use him in that position on a more regular basis. “He did well in a central role and we have great options with Ronaldo, but he is such a fantastic player out wide. He is streets ahead of everyone else in the game,” added Ferguson.

“The goals he can get from out there are very valuable to us and you cannot deprive yourself of that by moving him and we also have plenty of strikers. Berbatov, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney will be back next week. Ronaldo is a centre forward playing wide and a winger playing centre forward when he is in the game. I like him as a winger and that is where I want him to play.”

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When the teams met on Monday, it was Everton who fought back to force a draw and dent Liverpool’s Premier League title ambitions, but Sunday’s fourth round tie saw the Reds come from behind.

Everton took the lead in the 27th minute when Liverpool failed to mark Tim Cahill in the box.

The Australia midfielder’s header from Steven Pienaar’s corner was nodded home from close range by Joleon Lescott.

But Gerrard, as he’s done so often before, dragged Liverpool back into the match with a well-struck shot six minutes before the hour although Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard ought to have saved at his near post.

Gerrard, who opened the scoring on Monday, said Liverpool had deserved to win this match.

“In the league game Everton were worthy of a point but for 90 minutes we’ve dominated the game and they’ve scored off a set-piece which is disappointing,” he said.

“I thought we were fantastic. The only thing we’ll look at is set-pieces and being a bit more clinical in front of goal.” Asked about the undesirability of a replay, Gerrard said: “Both sides could have done without it, both would have wanted to progress tonight.”

Earlier, Arsenal were also left contemplating the somewhat unwelcome prospect of a replay against Cardiff City after their Welsh opponents held them to a goalless draw at Ninian Park.

“We could do without it, but let’s not complain because we play football,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

“It’s one more game to play. If that’s the price we have to pay to stay in the hat, we’re happy to do it.”

Cardiff, beaten in last year’s final by Portsmouth, spurned several good chances in the first half in a match where Arsenal missed opportunities of their own against the second-tier Championship club.

This match was a repeat of the 1927 final which Cardiff won 1-0 to become the only non-English club to win the FA Cup.

Cardiff’s Roger Johnson praised the Bluebirds’ defending which helped earn them a second crack against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on February 3.

“We have given sloppy goals away late on this season, that has been our downfall,” he said. “But we were strong today and held on.”

Holders Portsmouth were knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday after losing 2-0 at their Fratton Park home to Cardiff’s bitter Welsh rivals Swansea, who also play in the Championship.

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