FA Cup dream on for Sky Blues
Manchester City will face Chelsea and Manchester United face off against Championship side Coventry City in this year’s FA Cup semi-finals, after a series of frenetic quarter-final matches last weekend.
Coventry made their first semi-final since 1987 after a thrilling 3-2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers last Saturday (Mar 16).
The Sky Blues were not given much of a chance against a much fancied Tottenham Hotspur side in the ’87 final but went on to defy the odds and lift the trophy and will start this season’s semi-final against United as underdogs.
Despite taking the lead in the 59th minute, the Championship side looked to have blown their chance to reach Wembley when Wolves themselves scored twice in the final seven minutes of the 90.
However, Ellis Simms’ second goal of the match levelled in the 97th minute before he teed up Haji Wright to fire into the corner three minutes later.
“Immensely proud. It’s really hard to put into words really,” said an elated Coventry boss Mark Robins.
The Sky Blues will face Erik Ten Hag’s United who managed to defeat Liverpool and stop the Reds’ hopes of a quadruple in the process, with Amad Diallo’s late winner edging a classic game 4-3 after extra-time.
Two goals in three minutes from
Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah towards the end of the first half had swung the game in Liverpool’s favour after Scott McTominay opened the scoring in the 10th minute.
Antony’s first goal at Old Trafford for more than a year kept United alive and sent the game into extra-time before Harvey Elliott once again put Liverpool in front.
Marcus Rashford, who had missed a glorious chance to win the tie deep into injury time, made amends by drilling home to make it 3-3 before Diallo’s 120th minute winner.
United trail Liverpool by 17 points in the Premier League and, having made an early exit from both the Champions League and League Cup, the pressure is on Ten Hag if he is to remain in charge for a third season.
Manchester City cruised past a tired looking Newcastle 2-0 with Bernardo Silva scoring two deflected goals.
Pep Guardiola’s side remain in contention to repeat last season’s historic Treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup and are the first side in FA Cup history to reach six successive FA Cup semi-finals.
Chelsea suffered a scare against Leicester to finally triumph 4-2 after extra time but made very hard work of it.
The hosts led comfortably at 2-0 until Axel Disasi scored a comedy own goal from 35 yards out to breathe life into the tie in the 51st minute before Stephy Mavididi curled in an exquisite equaliser.
Substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke snatched victory for the Blues after Foxes’ defender Callum Doyle was sent off.