Blues, Saints march to FA Cup semis

ENGLAND. — Pedro Rodriguez came off the bench to halt Chelsea’s slide with an extra-time winner in a 2-1 victory at Leicester yesterday to reach the FA Cup semifinals.

Alvaro Morata’s first goal since Boxing Day on his return to the Chelsea starting line- up put the visitors on course to bounce back from their Champions League elimination at the hands of Barcelona in midweek.

However, Jamie Vardy’s equaliser 15 minutes from time made them do it the hard way in an extra 30 minutes.

Yet, for all Antonio Conte’s complaints this season about his side’s strength in depth, the Italian was able to call on Pedro to turn the game in Chelsea’s favour when he headed home former Leicester favourite N’Golo Kante’s cross.

Chelsea had lost three of their past four matches to fall behind in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League as well as their European exit.

But victory does at least keep their chances of silverware to end the sea- son alive.

Chelsea will meet Southampton in the last four, while Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur for a place in the final.

Both Morata and Pedro had a point to prove after being left out of the Spain squad on Friday just three months ahead of the World Cup.

Morata was recalled for just his second start since the sides last met in a 0- 0 draw at Stamford Bridge back in January.

And after a quiet start, Chelsea’s club record £70 million buy from Real Madrid was presented with his first big chance of the afternoon when he was brilliantly picked out by Marcos Alonso’s low cross, but his shot was far too close to Kasper Schmeichel.

Morata headed another half- chance from a teasing Willian cross over and then hit the outside of the post from the narrowest of angles.

The goal he craved finally arrived three minutes before halftime, but much of the credit must go to Willian who surged through the heart of the Leicester midfield on the counter-attack before feeding Morata.

And Morata coolly clipped the ball beyond the advancing Schmeichel with an assuredness unbefitting of a striker who had gone 13 games without a goal.

Despite going in front, Conte still withdrew Tiemoue Bakayoko at halftime after another awful 45 minutes for the Frenchman in a desperately disappointing debut season in English foot- ball following a £40 million move from Monaco.

The visitors were happy to take their chances on the counter-attack in the second period as they began to feel the after- effects of their run around at Barcelona in midweek.

While, Southampton reached the FA Cup semifinals with a 2- 0 victory over third tier Wigan Athletic as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Cedric Soares were on target in manager Mark Hughes’s first match in charge.

Hughes was appointed Southampton boss on Wednesday following the sacking of Argentine Mauricio Pellegrino and his side, 18th in the Premier League, struggled in the opening 45 minutes against League One promotion chasers Wigan.

Wigan, who had beaten three Premier League teams in the Cup including Manchester City in the previous round, could not convert their chances, however.

The home side went close in the 15th minute when Nathan Byrne’s deflected shot drifted goalwards but Cheyenne Dunkley was unable to connect from close range.

Gary Roberts then hooked over the bar from a promising position and Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy had to punch away an inswinging Max Power corner that could have sneaked in the near post.

Yet it was a different story after the break as Southampton came out strongly and their superior quality began to show. Hojbjerg forced a fine save out of Walton with a powerful header from a corner and then from the resulting corner came the 62nd minute opener.

Hojbjerg made a positive run from deep to convert Dusan Tadic’s ball with a side-foot finish for his first goal for the club.

Southampton had a chance to wrap up the tie when they were given a penalty with 18 minutes remaining but Manolo Gabbiadini’s spot kick, awarded after he had been brought down by Dan Burn, was brilliantly saved by Wigan keeper Christian Walton, diving to his left. Southampton’s second goal came in injury time when Cedric finished off a swift counter-attack, led by Nathan Redmond, with a calm finish into the far corner.