Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard saved two penalties against his former club last night in the FA Cup semi-final to put an end to Manchester United’s bid to win an unprecedented four trophies this season. The last time Everton made the FA Cup final was in 1995.

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.

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Sir Alex Ferguson insisted that his quest for five trophies is not an impossible dream after Manchester United remained on course for an unprecedented haul of silverware by beating Derby 4-1 in the FA Cup fifth round. Having already claimed the Fifa Club World Cup Japan 2008 and a place in the League Cup final against Tottenham next month, United can extend their advantage at the head of the Premier League to five points with victory over Fulham on Wednesday.

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.

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It was the Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard who kept his team in the FA Cup by equalizing 6 minutes before the turn of the hour against Everton at Anfield on Sunday night. The two teams drew 1 - 1  for the second time in a week.

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.”

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