Cupsets galore; heartbreak for Wycombe
IN A day of major shocks in the FA Cup, Tottenham Hotspur survived what would possibly have been the biggest of all by twice coming from behind in a 4-3 win over fourth-tier Wycombe Wanderers at White Hart Lane.
In the Southampton versus Arsenal tie both sides made 10 changes, a trend repeated by several other clubs, but it was Arsenal who seemed to have the best reserve strength, winning 5-0.
In his first start since May last year Danny Welbeck scored two excellent goals in the first 22 minutes, the second when he ran on to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's ball over the top and slotted home.
Theo Walcott then scored a hattrick, the last goal of which came in the 85th minute.
Seven-times FA Cup winners Liverpool lost 2-1 at home to second-tier Wolves as the Merseysiders’ season went from bad to worse.
Defeat meant Liverpool, 10 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea — their next opponents at Anfield on Tuesday — had been knocked out of two cup competitions in four days following their 2-0 aggregate loss to Southampton in Wednesday’s League Cup semifinal return.
Wolves needed less than a minute to go ahead, Richard Stearman opening the scoring for the Midlands side when he headed in a free kick.
And four minutes before half-time, they doubled their lead when Andreas Weimann finished an excellent counterattack.
But, having rarely threatened, a much-changed Liverpool pulled a goal back when Divock Origi scored from close range with four minutes left following a corner.
That, however, was as good as it got for Liverpool, who have now won just one of their last eight matches in all competition.
Wycombe threatened an even bigger upset as they surged into a 2-0 lead away to eight-times FA Cup winners Spurs thanks to two firsthalf goals from captain Paul Hayes, only for Son Heung-Min, who scored twice, to grab the winning goal seven minutes into stoppage-time.
Hayes fired Wycombe into a 23rdminute lead and in the 36th minute he made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Spurs’ Cameron Carter-Vickers brought down Sam Wood. But Son pulled a goal back for the north London side on the hour.
And four minutes later Spurs were level when Vincent Janssen scored from the penalty spot after being brought down in the box.
Yet there was still time for Wycombe to regain the lead courtesy of Gary Thompson’s 83rd-minute header. But with two minutes of normal time left, England midfielder Alli made it 3-3 after weaving his way through the box.
Wycombe were then cruelly denied a replay when South Korean forward Son scored with a deflected shot seconds before the final whistle.
In further shock results nonleague Lincoln City stunned Championship leaders Brighton 3-1 and third-tier Oxford United upset Championship club Newcastle 3-0.
Elsewhere, Chelsea kept their double hopes alive with a comfortable 4-0 fourth-round win at home to fellow west London club Brentford.
Manchester City won an all-Premier League tie against Crystal Palace, last season’s losing FA Cup finalists, 3-0 courtesy of goals from Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Yaya Touré.
Other ties went more true to form. Premier League Burnley beat second-tier Bristol City 2-0. Blackburn defeated local rivals Blackpool 2-0, Middlesbrough edged out Accrington 1-0 and Huddersfield thrashed Rochdale 4-0. — AFP