MILLWALL LET BRIGHTON SLIP THROUGH
AS the clock ticked beyond the 80th minute, the chants from the Millwall supporters began. Loud and proud, the Cold Blow End reverberated to the ditty ‘Manchester City, we’re coming for you’. Then came ‘Que sera sera’. With a 2-0 lead against Premier League Brighton, few could dispute their confidence. Neil Harris’ side scored twice in a blistering nine-minute spell, first Alex Pearce in the 70th minute and then Ireland international Aiden O’Brien. Wembley beckoned. Then the complexion of the contest changed. Solly March, on as a substitute, tricked his way down the wing and laid the ball back to Jurgen Locadia, who spun rapidly and blasted into the goal. Brighton, for the first time, turned up the heat and resembled a Premier League team. March weaved inside and teed up Jose Izquierdo but the winger struck into the goalkeeper’s arms as a line of Brighton players waited in the six-yard box. Then normal time entered its lunatic last reel. Ten seconds remained in the fifth minute of injury time. A Brighton free-kick, midway inside the Millwall half but over to the right. March curled it in. At first, it seemed overhit and a terrible waste and it sailed towards the goalkeeper’s grasp. And then it happened. Only David Martin will know how he allowed the ball through his grasp and into the top corner. Martin placed his gloves over his face. Every one of his teammates put their hands on their heads. Some sank to their knees and on to the turf. At the full-time whistle, Harris searched out his goalkeeper and patted his head. A few words of comfort. But, really, what could he say? This was a Sunday League blooper in an FA Cup quarter-final. Martin knew. The whole stadium knew. Millions watching on television knew. Having survived extra time, Martin could redeem himself in a penalty shoot-out. Sadly, it was not to be. Brighton did miss one — Glenn Murray hitting the bar — but they scored five other spot-kicks as Mahlon Romeo was denied by Mat Ryan before centre-back Jake Cooper became jelly-legged and slashed over the top in sudden death. So instead it is Brighton coming for Manchester City in the club’s first FA Cup semi-final since 1983.
MILLWALL (4-5-1): Martin 5; Romeo 6, Pearce 7, Cooper 7, Ferguson 6; Wallace 7 (Hutchinson 90, 6), Tunnicliffe 7, Williams 7, Leonard 6, O’Brien 7 (Meredith 85, 6); Gregory 6 (Morrison 90, 6). Scorers: Pearce 70, O’Brien 79. Sent off: Ferguson.
BRIGHTON (4-3-3): Ryan 6; Montoya 5.5, Dunk 6, Duffy 6, Bernardo 6, Stephens 6, Propper 6, Kayal 5.5 (Izquierdo 73, 6); Knockaert 5 (Locadia 73, 7), Murray 5, Jahanbakhsh 5 (MARCH 67, 8). Scorers: Locadia 88, March 90+5.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh 5.