Josh Adams was unlucky not to score in the early exchanges, going close three times.
Jack Donaldson and Thomas Sinton, from Wanganui, and Malcolm Marfell and Josh Harris, from United, were all shown the yellow card in the first half.
In the 32nd minute, Sinton scored the goal of the match. A goal kick by Faulkner bounced once and, from just inside United’s half, Sinton half-volleyed the ball with extreme power. It sneaked in under the bar of the United goal.
Play had been even till then, with chances falling to both teams.
Three minutes before halftime, Corey Adams put through younger brother Josh. He took his shot early and hit the post for the second time in the match, then put his shot from the rebound over the bar.
United came out firing in the second half. Josh Adams hit the post again and a Josh Harris effort was just wide of the left post.
In the 54th minute, United equalised. Centreback Kieran Higham hit a great ball over the top of the Wanganui defence and Josh Adams took the ball down beautifully, went round Wanganui keeper Merrick “Grim” Slade and calmly placed the ball into the back of the net.
One minute later, Wanganui were down to 10 men. Midfielder Chris Annabell was brought down by United’s Corey Adams but landed on the leg of Adams. Referee Martin Roil ruled this was retaliation and Annabell received his marching orders.
Adams’s match was over too, though, as he had to come off with a knee injury.
The sending-off left Wanganui with 35 minutes of normal time to play, one man short, against a United side that was lifting in confidence.
Despite mounting wave after wave of attack, United could not find a winner in normal time.
For extra time, United moved Brouwer into a more attacking role alongside Josh Adams, and it immediately paid dividends.
Brouwer scored in the first and third minutes of extra time, Harris setting up the first and fellow midfielder Dane Thompson, the second.
Just before the change of ends in extra time, Josh Adams took a free-kick from outside the penalty area and curled the ball round the wall. It took a slight deflection on the way and went in at the bottom left corner. United ended the first half of extra time 4-1 up.
Within a minute of the restart, Brouwer had his hat-trick.
Slade miscued a goal kick and Brouwer placed a neat shot into the top right corner.
United weren’t finished yet. The ball came out of a goalmouth scramble to second-half substitute Matt Adams, who tucked the ball into the back of the net to put United 6-1 up.
United coach Chris Adams was ecstatic about the result, and happy with the job his side did.
“Wanganui were a tall and very physical side who knocked our players off the ball,” he said.
“We had some very good chances in normal time but just couldn’t find the net.”
Chris Adams gave United’s man-of-the-match award to Brouwer, for his hat-trick and overall performance.
Wanganui City coach Ants Bell congratulated United on scoring five goals in extra time.
He said his team had done their best but, having played the last 35 minutes of regulation time with 10 men and then having to play 30 minutes more, “something had to give”.
United now have the opportunity to achieve a notable treble — the Pacific Premiership title, retention of that league’s challenge trophy, and victory in the Central Federation Cup knockout competition.
In the other semifinal, Massey University beat Palmerston North rivals Hokowhitu 2-1.
A draw will be held to determine where the final will be. The match will take place at 2pm on Saturday, September 14.
