Man U downs Spurs to reach FA Cup final
LONDON— A third cup final with Manchester United for Jose Mourinho. More FA Cup semifinal misery for Tottenham.
While Mauricio Pochettino wins admiration for his style of football, the manager has yet to actually win a trophy in management.
A 2-1 collapse to United at Wembley Stadium on Saturday left Tottenham reeling from an eighth successive loss in the FA Cup semifinals. Pochettino is responsible for two of the setbacks, having also fallen short against Chelsea last season.
At the stadium where Tottenham has been playing its home matches this season, Dele Alli’s goal gave the 1991 FA Cup winners hope of turning around their miserable record in world football’s oldest knockout competition.
But Alexis Sanchez levelled in the 24th minute and Ander Herrera struck the winner in the second half. It ensured Mourinho, who won the League Cup and Europa League in his first season at United, has a chance to also end this campaign with silverware against Chelsea or Southampton in the FA Cup final.
“We’re getting used to being in finals,” Herrera said. “This club is all about titles and finals.”
While Mourinho has fallen short in the English Premier League behind newly crowned champion Manchester City, United is second and on course for its highest finish since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Tottenham would settle with holding onto fourth place to secure a third season in a row in the Champions League.
Liverpool missed a chance to considerably stretch its advantage over Tottenham in one of Saturday’s two league games. Juergen Klopp’s side threw away a two-goal lead to draw with last-place West Bromwich Albion 2-2 and move only three points ahead of Tottenham.
Chelsea, which plays Southampton in the other FA Cup semifinal on Sunday, is five points behind Tottenham with four games remaining.
Premier League: At West Brom, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp felt the host mounted a “useless comeback” given it has little chance of avoiding being relegated.
Liverpool was in control with 18 minutes remaining thanks to Danny Ings scoring his first goal in 930 days and Mohamed Salah’s Premier League recordequalling 31st of the season.
But Jake Livermore and Salomon Rondon recovered a draw that still left West Brom eight points from safety and only three games remaining.
“I don’t think that point will help West Brom massively,” Klopp said. “It is a complete waste of points. They don’t need it.”