Tag: English FA Cup

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Southampton shocks Fulham to reach FA Cup quarterfinals

Championship side Southampton reached the FA Cup quarterfinals with a shock 1-0 win against Fulham on Sunday.

Ross Stewart’s ice-cool penalty in stoppage-time at Craven Cottage sealed Southampton’s fifth-round upset.

It was an embarrassing loss for Fulham manager Marco Silva, who paid the price for a selection gamble that backfired.

Silva made nine changes to following a disappointing 1-0 defeat against West Ham in the Premier League earlier this week, but his switches failed to produce the desired result.

Southampton won it in the first minute of stoppage-time when Finn Azaz was fouled by Fulham defender Joachim Andersen and Stewart drilled his spot-kick past Benjamin Lecomte.

Relegated from the Premier League last season, they are through to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2022.

Southampton’s success served as a fitting tribute to the greatest day in the club’s history.

Their players wore a yellow commemorative kit to mark 50 years since they wore the same shirts when Bobby Stokes’ sealed then second-tier Southampton’s shock 1976 FA Cup final win against Manchester United at Wembley.

Southampton’s current crop still have a way to go to emulate the achievement of Lawrie McMenemy’s men.

But Tonda Eckert’s side are unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions as they chase FA Cup glory and a place in the Championship play-offs.

Later on Sunday, Sunderland travel to Port Vale, who sit bottom of League One, and Leeds host second-tier Norwich, while West Ham meet Brentford on Monday.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have already booked their places in the quarterfinals. (JapanToday)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Liverpool tames Wolves to reach FA Cup quarterfinals

Liverpool moved into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 3-1 win against Wolves on Friday as the Reds avenged their painful Premier League loss at Molineux just 72 hours earlier.

Arne Slot’s side struck twice in quick succession in the second half through Andrew Robertson’s long-range rocket and a predatory Mohamed Salah finish.

Curtis Jones wrapped up a much-needed fifth round victory for Liverpool after their embarrassing 2-1 defeat against the Premier League’s bottom club three days earlier.

Hwang Hee-chan’s late reply was no consolation for Wolves.

Branded “slow and predictable” by furious captain Virgil van Dijk following that calamity, Liverpool set the record straight on their return to the West Midlands.

Despite spending £450 million ($599 million) on new signings in the close season, Liverpool have mounted a woeful title defence, leaving the FA Cup and the Champions League as their last chances for silverware.

Languishing in sixth place in the Premier League — 19 points behind leaders Arsenal — Slot needs to deliver a trophy to ease the mounting pressure in his turbulent second season at Anfield.

Liverpool remain in contention for a ninth FA Cup triumph, and a first since 2022, while they step up their Champions League challenge with a last 16 first leg trip to Galatasaray on Tuesday.

Slot made four changes for the Wolves rematch, including three in defence as Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Ibrahima Konate were all dropped.

Avoiding relegation remains unlikely for a team currently 12 points from safety, but as well as beating Liverpool, Wolves also recently drew with Premier League leaders Arsenal and defeated Aston Villa.

Well aware of their impending fate, Wolves fans mocked Liverpool with chants of “2-1 to the Championship” in the first half.

Liverpool’s 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha nearly silenced the taunts with a low drive that forced a good save from Sam Johnstone.

Ngumoha carried Liverpool’s lone threat in the opening period, his goal-bound strike headed clear by Joao Gomes after an incisive raid.

Despite Ngumoha’s best efforts, it was another uninspired half from Liverpool in a season scarred by criticism of their prosaic approach.

Slot’s men finally conjured a rare moment of magic to break the deadlock in the 51st minute.

Salah and Jones worked the ball to Robertson and he thundered a superb strike into the far corner from 20 yards.

It was the Scotland left-back’s second goal this season and his first since September.

After scoring against Wolves on Tuesday, Salah was back on target to double the lead two minutes later.

When Salah pounced on Robertson’s cross with a close-range finish, the Egyptian’s ninth goal this season was initially disallowed for offside before VAR overturned the decision.

Adding to the good news for Slot, German playmaker Florian Wirtz came off the bench in the closing stages after missing three games with a back injury.

Jones put the seal on Liverpool’s fifth win in their last six matches, caressing his shot past Johnstone in the 74th minute.

Liverpool switched off in stoppage time as Hwang ran onto Johnstone’s long punt to slot past Alisson Becker. (JapanToday)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Chelsea happy to rotate goalkeepers, says Rosenior

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior said Friday he has no fixed number one goalkeeper after dropping Robert Sanchez from his starting line-up in midweek.

The English manager brought in Denmark’s Filip Jorgensen for the 4-1 victory at Aston Villa days after Sanchez, who has been the first choice this season, struggled in a defeat against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Rosenior was asked on the eve of Chelsea’s FA Cup tie against second-tier Wrexham to explain his goalkeeping policy.

“For me, genuinely, I look at the goalkeeper position maybe differently for each game,” he said. “I want there to be competition in every area of the pitch.

“I know traditionally if there’s a change of goalkeeper it’s like ‘He’s now the number one’. It’s not the case, it’s not the case at all.

“So we will try and pick the best team possible for each game.”

Rosenior played down potential fears over rhythm and confidence.

“You need continuity, but you need to win games of football,” he said. “There’s different ways, modern coaching or old school or anything.

“I will pick the team I think is best to win each game. I don’t think I’ve kept the same 11 in any game that we’ve played.

“Now, people can say we need continuity, and if we lose, then we don’t have enough continuity. If we win, then it’s the right decision.”

Rosenior, who took charge at Stamford Bridge in January, said Spain’s Sanchez had reacted well to being dropped.

“I’ve spoken about (winger Alejandro) Garnacho and the way he’s responded to not being in the team,” he said.

“If we’re going to be successful, I’m sure in the short and long term you need a group, you need a squad with the right mentality and Rob so far has been absolutely magnificent in that.”

Rosenior said he was expecting a tough battle in Saturday’s fifth-round tie at Hollywood-backed Wrexham, who have enjoyed three successive promotions and are now in a Championship play-off spot.

“When you see a club grow, develop, improve and come up through the leagues, it’s a great story,” said the Chelsea boss as he paid tribute to Wrexham counterpart Phil Parkinson.

“They’ve done a great job, I think Phil’s done an incredible job…We know it’s going to be a really difficult game. It’s a club that’s ( on the rise and there’s a good energy in them.” (Channels)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Arsenal routs Wigan 4-0 on no-surprise Sunday as Premier League teams advance to 5th round

Arsenal enjoyed a 4-0 rout of Wigan as five Premier League teams avoided upsets to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Third-tier struggler Wigan was overwhelmed against the Premier League leader in front of a 60,000 crowd at Emirates Stadium, with all the goals coming in the first half.

Forwards Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus were on the scoresheet along with Jack Hunt’s own-goal as he tried to cut out a cross from Bukayo Saka.

Big-money summer signing Eberechi Eze set up two goals for Arsenal, which won the last of its record 14 FA Cups in 2020. Wigan won the FA Cup for the first and only time in 2013, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final, but was relegated from the Premier League in the same season.

Premier League teams Fulham, Leeds, Sunderland and Wolverhampton joined the Gunners in the last 16.

Fulham rallied to win 2-1 at second-tier Stoke, with Harrison Reed slotting in a late winner after intercepting Stoke goalkeeper Tommy Simkin’s misjudged pass. Brazilian winger Kevin equalized for Fulham early in the second half after South Korean midfielder Bae Jun-ho’s early goal for Stoke.

Midfielder Habib Diarra’s penalty earned Sunderland a 1-0 win at second-tier struggler Oxford, and midfielder Santiago Bueno’s goal gave Wolves a 1-0 victory at fourth-tier Grimsby at a soggy and rain-soaked Blundell Park.

Leeds needed penalty kicks to win at second-tier Birmingham after a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes and extra time.

German forward Lukas Nmecha put Leeds ahead early in the second half after being set up by Noah Okafor, but Patrick Roberts equalized in the 89th minute with a powerful shot. (JapanToday)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Newcastle ousts 10-man Villa from FA Cup; Man City beat Beckham’s Salford

Newcastle beat 10-man Aston Villa 3-1 thanks to a double from Sandro Tonali to reach the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday as Marc Guehi scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 2-0 victory over fourth-tier Salford.

Both Villa and Newcastle have failed to win the competition since the 1950s and another opportunity for Unai Emery’s men to end a 30-year wait for silverware vanished after a first half red card for goalkeeper Marco Bizot.

Tammy Abraham had fired the home side in front with his first goal since returning to Villa last month.

But the game swung in the Magpies’ favour when Bizot charged off his line to wipe out Jacob Murphy and deny a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Newcastle’s fightback saved the officials from an embarrassing moment becoming more controversial when Lucas Digne’s handball, that was clearly inside the box, was given as a free-kick instead of a penalty.

With VAR not in operation at this stage of the competition, the decision could not be reviewed.

But Newcastle levelled from the resulting free-kick anyway as Tonali’s strike deflected past the helpless Emi Martinez.

Tonali has been linked with a move to Arsenal come the end of the season and the Italian showed why he is in-demand with a blistering strike from outside the box to turn the tie around.

Nick Woltemade then netted his first goal in 15 games to take Newcastle, who last lifted the trophy in 1955, into the last 16.

Owned by Manchester United legends David Beckham and Gary Neville, Salford were playing in the fourth round for the first time in their history.

The League Two side were humbled 8-0 when they faced City in the third round last season, but pushed Pep Guardiola’s men far closer on Saturday.

“They defended really well, so tight and we didn’t attack the spaces the way we should. The game was flat until we scored the second goal,” Guardiola said.

City took an early lead through Alfie Dorrington’s own goal, but there were only nine minutes left when England defender Guehi delivered the decisive blow with his maiden goal since signing from Crystal Palace in January.

Third-tier Mansfield produced the upset of the day by winning 2-1 at Premier League Burnley to reach the fifth round for the first time since 1975.

Burnley went into the game bolstered by their first league win since October over Crystal Palace in midweek, but boss Scott Parker made nine changes and the gamble backfired.

Burnley took the lead through Josh Laurent’s 21st-minute goal, but Nigel Clough’s team, who sit in mid-table in League One, staged an impressive fightback in the second half.

Rhys Oates headed in the equaliser in the 53rd minute and Louis Reed capped a fine individual performance with a brilliant free-kick 10 minutes from full-time.

Ten-man West Ham edged through as the in-form Crysencio Summerville clinched a 1-0 win at League One Burton after extra-time.

Freddie Potts was sent off soon after Summerville’s strike in the first period of extra-time, but the Premier League strugglers held on to survive a gruelling fourth round clash.

After eliminating Manchester United in round three, Brighton are aiming to deliver another upset when they visit Liverpool later at Anfield. (JapanToday)

Posted on by — Leave a comment

6th-tier Macclesfield upsets FA Cup holder Crystal Palace in huge shock

The FA Cup delivered another fairytale result on Saturday when sixth-tier Macclesfield — managed by Wayne Rooney’s brother — knocked out titleholder Crystal Palace in one of the competition’s greatest upsets.

The teams were separated by 117 places in the English soccer pyramid.

At the other extreme, Manchester City overwhelmed third-tier Exeter 10-1 in a match featuring a goal on debut by $87 million signing Antoine Semenyo.

City tying the record for its biggest ever win wasn’t the story of the day in the third round, though.

That was the 2-1 win for Macclesfield, a tiny club from England’s north west that was relaunched after its predecessor, Macclesfield Town, was liquidated in 2020 because of debts.

The team, placed 14th in National League North, is still coming to terms with the loss of its 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod, who was killed in a car crash travelling back from a match he played in at Bedford Town on Dec. 16. A banner bearing his name hung behind the dugouts at the Palace game and his family were in the stands to watch.

It made for an emotionally draining afternoon for John Rooney, the younger sibling of England and Manchester United great Wayne Rooney, who was at the match working for the BBC.

“We finished the game and then I walk in the office and see Ethan’s mum and dad in there, that’s very special to me,” John Rooney said. “Just knowing they were here with us, and I’m sure Ethan was looking down on us today.”

Macclesfield took the lead just before halftime through captain Paul Dawson, before Isaac Buckley-Ricketts made it 2-0 in the 60th following a scramble in the penalty area.

Yeremy Pino’s last-minute free kick for Palace left Macclesfield facing a nervous six minutes of stoppage time as home fans chanted “Silkmen! Silkmen!” — the club’s nickname.

Macclesfield survived, their players adding their names to the competition’s lore. Given the difference in league positions, it was the most unlikely result in FA Cup history.

Fans sprinted onto the field at Moss Rose — Macclesfield’s modest 5,900-capacity stadium — in celebration at the final whistle while Dawson and Duffy were carried aloft.

“I didn’t think it was possible but there is that little bit of hope that anything can happen on the day,” said Rooney, who started and ended his playing career as a midfielder with the club and is in only his first season coaching.

“I can’t believe it. We were incredible from the first minute.”

The last time Palace played in the FA Cup, it beat City in the final for its first ever trophy.

Palace’s dismal afternoon was summed up when U.S. defender Chris Richards did a foul throw in the final minute of stoppage time.

“I have no words for this performance,” Palace manager Oliver Glasner said.

Palace captain Marc Guéhi spoke with the team’s traveling fans after the defeat.

Semenyo was handed a start by City manager Pep Guardiola a day after joining from Bournemouth and was among nine scorers for City. Right back Rico Lewis netted twice.

In a classy gesture, Semenyo thanked Bournemouth fans “for all the memories” in a full-page advertisement printed in the local Bournemouth Echo newspaper before the game. (JapanToday)