Man United sink Liverpool’s FA Cup hopes in thriller

MANCHESTER: Amad Diallo scored deep in extra time yesterday after Marcus Rashford made amends for a bad miss to lift Manchester United to a breathless 43 victory over northwest rivals Liverpool and into the FA Cup semifinals.

United’s victory at Old Trafford kept alive their only hope of silverware this season and spoiled Liverpool’s dreams of hoisting four trophies in manager Juergen Klopp’s final campaign with the team.

Erik ten Hag’s side will face Championship (secondtier) side Coventry City in the semis after they upset Wolverhampton Wanderers 32 on Sunday.

‘‘Listen to the noise. You can tell what a big game it is, a huge occasion,’’ Rashford told ITV.

‘‘I haven’t had the season I wanted but nights like this at Old Trafford are what it’s all about.

‘‘We have to get something out of this season . . . it’s a massive game in the history of Manchester United.’’

Scott McTominay gave United a 10thminute lead but Liverpool turned the game on its head with goals three minutes apart from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah before halftime.

Liverpool dominated the second half and should have put the game to bed, but United poured on the pressure late in normal time and Antony spun in the box before slotting home past two Liverpool players in the 87th minute — the Brazilian’s first goal at Old Trafford in over a year — to force extra time.

Harvey Elliott brought the 9000 travelling Liverpool fans to their feet in the 105th minute when his longrange rocket deflected off Christian Eriksen’s foot and between Harry Maguire’s legs into the bottom corner.

But once again 12times FA Cup winners United — who are four places below Liverpool in a Premier League season to forget for Ten Hag’s side — kept their foot on the gas.

‘‘Super intense,’’ Klopp said. ‘‘We used the time and adapted well. We were outstanding but we had to finish the game off and we didn’t.’’

Rashford, who had missed a sitter late in normal time, made it 33 in the 112th minute, calmly slotting a perfect pass from McTominay into the bottom corner before running to United’s fans, where he was mobbed.

Then Alejandro Garnacho and Diallo charged up the field on a breakaway after a Liverpool corner with Diallo firing home the winner in the 120th minute to a deafening roar from the Old

Trafford faithful, leaving Klopp looking stunned on the sideline.

Diallo was then sent off after receiving a second yellow card for his celebrations.

Chelsea substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke scored stoppagetime goals to earn a thrilling 42 home victory over battling secondtier side Leicester City and their place in the cup semifinals.

The match had everything needed for a classic cup tie, including a missed penalty, a red card, a howler of an own goal and some sumptuous strikes.

Chelsea had looked in full control at halftime after goals from Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer, though Raheem Sterling also had a somewhat feeble penalty saved by Jakub Stolarczyk’s legs.

However, a horrible mistake from Chelsea’s France defender Axel Disasi gifted Leicester a goal in the 51st minute when his pass back from distance flew straight into his own goal.

Ten minutes later Stephy Malvididi produced a stunning individual goal to put Leicester level.

In the 71st, Leicester’s Callum Doyle clipped Nicolas Jackson’s heel as the striker raced towards goal.

Referee Andy Madley signalled a penalty and a yellow card but after a VAR check he ruled that the foul had happened just outside the penalty area and changed the yellow to a red because Jackson had been clear on goal.

Chelsea besieged the Leicester area, producing a total of 26 shots to the Championship side’s five, but they also missed a hatful of chances.

West Ham United had three goals ruled out as Aston Villa came from behind to earn a 11 draw in a fiery Premier League clash yesterday. — Reuters