Wout Weghorst wrote his name into the annals of football s***housery by kissing the ball moments before Solly March's penalty miss.
Brighton winger March blazed his effort high over the bar during the penalty shootout to give Victor Lindelof the chance to send Manchester United into the FA Cup final, one he took. Sunday's game went to penalties after a goalless 120 minutes at Wembley.
Weghorst has divided opinion since joining United on loan from Burnley in January to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Erik ten Hag's side by mutual consent two months earlier. Yet his now famous ball kiss ensures his status as an Old Trafford cult hero.
United will take on Manchester City, who defeated Sheffield United in the other semi-final, in June's showpiece event after a tense game with Brighton. Neither team scored during the first 120 minutes of the game, but it was a different story in the shootout.
The first 12 penalties were all converted, with United goalkeeper David de Gea struggling to get anywhere near Brighton's attempts. Weghorst scored his spot kick and did all he could to put off March, as he kissed the ball before handing it to the Brighton star.
It proved to be the 'kiss of death' for March, who failed to hit the target. It's not the first time Weghorst has been involved in a spat during a major game, as he clashed with Lionel Messi during Argentina's World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands.
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Weghorst then further endeared himself to United fans by sprinting over to them and sliding on his knees after Lindelof's winner. The Dutchman was the only United player or member of staff to head over to the supporters immediately after the final penalty.
Thanks in part to Weghorst, United fans can now look forward to another trip to Wembley. They have already visited English football's biggest ground twice this season - beating Newcastle in February's Carabao Cup final and winning Sunday's FA Cup semi-final.
United will need to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League before they can think about the FA Cup final. Ten Hag's side are currently fourth, six points clear of Tottenham in fifth with two games in hand. United travel to Tottenham on Thursday.
This year's FA Cup final will be quite the occasion, as it's the first time the two leading Manchester clubs will face each other in a major final. Speaking to the BBC, Ten Hag said: "It's going to be a great final, but first we have other things to focus on.
"It's important to get into the Champions League next season. We have to perform again on Thursday and Sunday. We've shown so often this season that we can do that. It shows the character and ambition of this team."
On his winning penalty, Lindelof added: "It felt great. It was a great relief and we're glad to be in the final. I have confidence in myself and I knew which penalty I wanted to take and that's what I did."
