Brighton fights back to reach FA Cup semis
LONDON: Brighton and Hove Albion reached the semifinals of the FA Cup, beating Championship side Millwall 54 in a penalty shootout yesterday, after clawing its way back to draw 22 from two goals down with only two minutes remaining.
Millwall defender Jake Cooper smashed his side’s final penalty over the bar at the sudden death stage of the shootout, after Brighton striker Glenn Murray had hit the crossbar and Millwall’s Mahlon Romeo spotkick was saved by Mat Ryan.
It is the first time since 1983 that Brighton has reached the FA Cup semifinals, where it will meet Premier League leader Manchester City. Watford will play Wolverhampton Wanderers in the other semi.
Chris Hughton’s side hauled itself back into the game after Millwall, fighting relegation to English football’s third tier, took a deserved 20 lead at The Den.
‘‘At 20 down you’re out of the competition but I felt we could get one back with the balance of play. To get two back in that last period shows character, then missing the first penalty and they score three shows real character and composure,’’ Hughton said.
In the English Premier League, a combination of goalkeeping errors and penalties earned Liverpool a return to the top of the competition, while Chelsea lost at Everton.
James Milner converted an 81stminute spot kick, after two mistakes in a matter of seconds by Fulham goalkeeper Sergio Rico, to secure the Reds a 21 win, lifting them two points clear of Manchester City in the title race.
Chelsea, however, was beaten 20 at Everton and missed a chance to move level on points with fourthplaced Arsenal.
Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson scored for Everton, while Liverpool’s Sadio Mane remains in the form of his life. The Senegal international made it 11 goals in his last 11 games by putting Liverpool ahead at Craven Cottage.
Mane was also influential in Liverpool’s second goal after he was dragged down by Rico. Milner calmly floated his penalty down the middle.
Fulham had earlier equalised through former Liverpool forward Ryan Babel.
With eight games left, Chelsea is in sixth. — Reuters/AP