Late Ceballos winner fires Arsenal into FA Cup semis
SHEFFIELD: Substitute Dani Ceballos fired Arsenal into the FA Cup semi-finals with a stoppage-time goal that sealed a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday.
Sheffield United went behind when Chris Basham fouled Alexandre Lacazette in the penalty area and Pepe struck the spotkick in the 23rd minute.
The game looked to be heading for extra time when David Mcgoldrick equalised in the 87th minute, hooking home a volley after Arsenal failed to clear a corner, but Ceballos popped up to slot home the winner.
Arsenal join Manchester United, who also needed a late Harry Maguire winner to edge past 10-man Norwich 2-1 on Saturday, in the last four.
In the other match on Sunday, Ross Barkley struck in the 63rd minute as Chelsea beat Leicester City 1-0 to enter into the last four.
WATFORD DROP THREE PLAYERS FOR BREACH
LONDON: Premier League strugglers Watford said on Sunday that three players had been removed from their matchday squad against Southampton to protect “the health and safety of all players, staff and officials”.
Andre Gray, Nathaniel Chalobah and Domingos Quina were not part of Nigel Pearson’s 20-man squad. The action by the club came after Gray posted a series of videos on social media of a large gathering to celebrate his 29th birthday on Friday.
LAZIO RALLY TO BEAT FIORENTINA 2-1
MILAN: Lazio fought back from a goal down to beat Fiorentina 2-1 in Serie A and keep their fading title hopes alive.
Luis Alberto struck seven minutes from time to cut the gap to league leaders Juventus back to four points. Ciro Immobile converted a penalty to cancel out Franck Ribery’s opening goal for Fiorentina.
ATLETICO REGISTER FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN
MADRID: Atletico Madrid beat Alaves 2-1 at home on Saturday in La Liga to maintain their superb run of form since the season resumed, recording a fourth consecutive win to further tighten their hold on third place.
Midfielder Saul Niguez broke the deadlock by heading home a pin-point free kick from Kieran Trippier in the 59th minute, while Diego Costa sent goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco the wrong way from the penalty spot to double their lead in the 73rd.
CITY WILL GIVE REDS GUARD OF HONOUR: PEP
MANCHESTER: Manchester City will give newly crowned Premier
League champions Liverpool a guard of honour when the teams meet at the Etihad Stadium on Thursday, manager Pep Guardiola has said.
Liverpool’s first match since being confirmed as champions is at City’s stadium. “We are going to do the guard of honour of course,” Guardiola said. “We will greet Liverpool, when they come to our house, in an incredible way. We are going to do it because they deserve it.”
BARCA ANNOYED AFTER DRAW, SAYS SUAREZ
VIGO: Barcelona forward Luis Suarez lamented his side’s 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo after the champions twice threw away the lead to hand more momentum to title rivals Real Madrid.
“I’m happy to have been able to help the team with my goals but overall I’m left with sensations of anger and frustration,” Suarez said.
“We are giving away a lot of points away from home which we didn’t used to do in previous seasons,” he added.