Man City held as Conte’s Blues breeze past Wolves
ON a day of fifth-round toil for the top-flight sides, English champions Leicester City’s problems continued to mount as they went down 1-0 at third-tier Millwall, while Manchester City face an unwanted replay in the last-16 of the FA Cup after labouring to a 0-0 draw at second-tier Championship side Huddersfield yesterday.
Chelsea, chasing a league and FA Cup double, restored some order with goals from Spanish stars Pedro and Diego Costa earning them a 2-0 win at Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Pedro headed in after 65 minutes following an intricate build-up involving Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Willian. Costa sealed a place in the quarterfinals in the 89th minute after defender Matt Doherty inadvertently deflected a pass into his path.
Having accounted for the Premier League scalps of Stoke City and Liverpool in previous rounds, Wolves looked in the mood to add the division’s leaders to that list, but that was not to be as the Blues found their groove.
It was an absorbing cup tie, with the Championship side putting their league troubles behind them and going toe-to-toe with a Chelsea team who made seven changes from their least league game.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had still fielded a strong line-up, however, with former England international John Terry continuing his ever-present status in the FA Cup and Fabregas handed a start.
The tie had plenty of aggression and a raucous atmosphere, especially when the home supporters claimed Andreas Weimann had been brought down by Willian in the area midway through the first half.
Pep Guardiola’s City struggled to find any tempo and must now try again at the Etihad Stadium to book their place in the quarterfinals.
A disappointing day all round for City saw unused substitute Raheem Sterling apparently targeted with a plastic bottle thrown by a supporter from the main stand as he warmed up in the second half.
The bottle missed the England winger, leaving Guardiola to worry more about his team’s lacklustre display with star forwards including an off-key Sergio Aguero unable to break down the Terriers’ stubborn and resolute defence.
Ranieri outfoxed
THIRD-TIER side Millwall’s FA Cup fairy-tale continued yesterday as they stunned struggling Premier League champions Leicester City 1-0 in a major fifth-round upset.
Having previously eliminated Bournemouth and Watford, Millwall added a third top-flight scalp by toppling Leicester thanks to a last-minute goal by defender Shaun Cummings.
Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri made 10 changes to his starting XI, but Millwall had to play with 10 men for 40 minutes after Jake Cooper was sent off for two bookable offences.
It is the latest embarrassing result to befall Leicester, who lie just one place and a point above the Premier League relegation zone. — AFP