Woes continues for Manchester as they loose to Sunderland in penalties.
From 2-1 lead by Sunderland , Manchester United equalised the scorecard in the 37th minute.
United promptly went straight up to the other end and equalised through Javier Hernandez, for 3-3 on aggregate and sending the tie to penalties, but it was to prove a false dawn.
An appalling shoot-out saw only three of the 10 penalty-takers score, but United full-back Rafael da Silva proved the fall guy, with Vito Mannone saving his spot-kick to give Sunderland a 2-1 win.
Second from bottom in the Premier League, Gus Poyet's side can now look forward to a clash with Manchester City in the final on March 2, in what will be their first major final since 1992.
For David Moyes, meanwhile, the misery continues, with a first final as United manager snatched from his grasp only days after defeat at Chelsea saw his side fall 14 points off the pace in the league.
United's fans arrived at Old Trafford to reports that their side have made a club-record bid for Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata, and the continued absence of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie due to injury underlined the need for reinforcements.