Maloney strike helps Wigan make history with final first
WIGAN Athletic forgot their relegation worries to reach the FA Cup final for the first time as goals from Shaun Maloney and Callum McManaman gave them a 2-0 win over Championship side Millwall at Wembley.
The match was marred when fighting broke out among the London club’s fans. They traded punches with each other for more than 20 minutes, ignoring their team’s efforts on the field.
Wigan, who are two places off the bottom of the Premier League table, will meet the winners of today’s semi-final between Manchester City and trophy holders Chelsea back at Wembley on May 11.
The breakthrough came for Wigan after 25 minutes after great work in the build-up from Arouna Kone. He chested the ball down and then outpaced three men in a powerful run before crossing for Maloney, who swept the ball under the body of Millwall keeper David Forde from close range.
Wigan’s second goal also started deep inside their own half, after the only period of pressure from Millwall, and ended when McManaman rounded Forde to slot the ball into the empty net 12 minutes from time.
Even if Wigan are relegated and lose the final, they are likely to be playing in the Europa League for the first time next season, with Chelsea and City almost certain to finish in the top four and be in the Champions League.
In the Premier League, Mikel Arteta, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski scored in the last five minutes as Arsenal came from a goal down to beat Norwich 3-1 at the Emirates. Arteta’s 85th-minute penalty cancelled out Michael Turner’s header before Giroud turned in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross to put Arsene Wenger’s men ahead.
Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski twice denied Norwich an equaliser before Podolski wrapped up an unlikely victory with a fierce strike from the edge of the penalty box.
Everton strengthened their bid for a Champions League slot with a 2-0 victory over QPR at Goodison Park.
Darron Gibson put Everton ahead with a deflected strike five minutes before the interval and Victor Anichebe wrapped up the points, sending QPR a step closer to relegation.
Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy was the hero as the bottom club ended an eight-game losing streak with a goalless draw at home to Liverpool. Time and again, McCarthy came to his side’s rescue, producing a succession of world-class saves to deny Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.
Coutinho also had a goal disallowed for offside and a Suarez chip was cleared off the line by Chris Gunter.
Aston Villa missed the chance to pull clear of the relegation zone when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Fulham, with Fabien Delph’s own goal cancelling out Charles N’Zogbia’s curling strike.
Delph wasted a golden chance to atone for his mistake but blasted high and wide from the back post after a cross from Andreas Weimann.
Southampton were also held at home after taking the lead, drawing 1-1 with West Ham. Andy Carroll cancelled out Southampton’s opener from Gaston Ramirez.