Tottenham Hotspur 6 Millwall 0
So it was FA Cup Quarter-Final time and my latest featured game came from White Hart Lane as Tottenham Hotspur faced Millwall in an eagerly awaited London derby.
This was to be the final FA Cup tie at the old White Hart Lane before the new look one takes over in a couple of years time so no doubt the hosts wanted to put on a show for their fans however standing in their way were Milwall who were 17 unbeaten and had knocked out three Premier League sides on their way so they had nothing to fear.
The hosts though started with a barrage of shots starting in the 3rd minute saw a Harry Winks effort from distance well saved by Tom King before a Harry Kane shot from an angle was saved at the near post by King then Winks tested King again with a left footed effort. Moments later a Son cross was beaten away by King but a worrying moment for Spurs and England came when Kane limped off injured after hurting his ankle following a challenge for the ball in his fifth minute effort. Christian Eriksen replaced him.
On the quarter hour mark a great ball in by Kieran Tripper found Dele Alli who tried to head the ball beyond King but he didn't get enough on it and a defender cleared the danger before a free kick and then a corner into the Spurs area from the Lions was dealt with by hosts comfortably in the 20th minute. It was the first time the visitors had ventured forward as it had been all Spurs so far.
Midway through the half the hosts were screaming for a penalty when Alli went down after having his shirt pulled inside area but no penalty was given and then in the 27th minute Millwall had a rare shot at goal when after Eric Dier failed to deal with a ball forward, Lee Gregory laid it back to Steve Morison whose effort went a couple of yards wide.
A minute later Jan Vertonghan sent a ball over the Millwall bar after a corner had came out to the Spurs defender and you could sense the hosts were starting to get frustrated after all their dominance and nothing to show for it. But then came the opener on the half hour when a loose ball inside the box dropped to Eriksen and he thumped a great effort beyond King into the far corner and Spurs had the lead they deserved.
Millwall tried to respond and two minutes later a free kick from the left was flicked on and almost found Cooper but it was to far in front of him and went away for a goal kick. You felt if they were to have any chance of getting back into the tie then set pieces seemed to be their best route.
Spurs nearly made it two nil with ten minutes of the half remaining though when a corner was headed against the bar by Victor Wanyama, however five minutes later they did make it two with a great goal from Son as after miscontrolling a pass initially, he cut inside and bent a left footed effort beyond King and the hosts had a two goal cushion at the half.
Half Time Tottenham Hotspur 2 Millwall 0
Millwall knew they needed something early in the half if they were to have any chance of getting back into the contest however Spurs started the half on the front foot with Alli and Ben Davies having chances as they were in no mood to let their tempo drop. Eriksen also tested the palms of King from range as the hosts looked for the killer third.
That duly arrived eight minutes into the second period when a terrific ball from Tripper saw Son volley first time past King for another wonderful goal and the hosts had pretty much sealed their passage into the Last Four. Moments later Alli went down inside the area again after it looked like he was kicked by a defender trying to the clear ball, it probably should of been given.
Just prior to the hour mark Millwall brought on Oyemdimba and he immediately created arguably their best chance of the game as his cross found Jed Wallace whose effort went just over. Spurs responded when Son had another opening, but his effort flew high and wide, however the hosts did add a fourth with a lovely team goal as Tripper found Eriksen who laid a lovely ball across goal for Alli to convert at far post.
With fifteen minutes left Wanyama tested King from range who beat away another Spurs effort but he was powerless to do anything with the next effort as in the 79th minute Vincent Yanssen, on as a sub, finished first time past King after a pass from Son, for his first goal for Spurs from open play.
He should of had another four minutes later as a great ball in from Davies found Janssen right in front of goal however his close range header went straight at King who managed to save the effort. The visitors were out on their feet and as the clock ticked into stoppage time Winks tried an effort from range but it went wide.
And the final act of the tie saw Spurs net a sixth as after a great bursting run forward from sub Moussa Sissoko, he found Eriksen whose cross to Son saw his volley go straight at King but the keeper then let the ball slip through his legs and in and allowed the South Korean to complete his hat-trick and cap a terrific performance from the Premier League side.
For Millwall it was a humbling experience but they can reflect on what had been a great cup run to the Quarter Final. They have promotion to work on now.
Full Time Tottenham Hotspur 6 Millwall 0
Here are some images of the day courtesy of Tottenham Hotspur FC and Millwall FC:-
Now here is a review of the other Quarter Final ties that took place:-
Saturday 11th March
Middlesbrough 0 Manchester City 2
Goals from David Silva and Sergio Aguero gave Manchester City a deserved win over Middlesbrough and earned Pep Guardiola's side a place in the FA Cup semi-finals. Silva scored just three minutes in from six yards out after Pablo Zabaleta had time and space to cross low from the right. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Guzan produced a number of fine saves to deny Silva, Leroy Sane and deflect an Aguero shot on to the post. But Aguero finally made the result safe for the visitors when he converted from Sane's low cross to earn his side a Wembley semi-final.
Arsenal 5 Lincoln City 0
Non-league Lincoln City's astonishing run in the FA Cup came to an end as Arsenal remain on course for a 13th title by reaching the semi-finals. Lincoln, 88 places below their Premier League opponents, held their own for much of the first half and even went close to scoring when Petr Cech saved Nathan Arnold's curled effort. However, Theo Walcott's deflected strike gave the Gunners the lead on the stroke of half-time and Olivier Giroud put the hosts in control with a clinical strike just after the break. Lincoln's dreams of a fight back were dashed when Luke Waterfall scored an own goal, turning in Kieran Gibbs' cross. Alexis Sanchez added a brilliant fourth, expertly placing the ball beyond Lincoln goalkeeper Paul Farman's reach, before Aaron Ramsey completed the win when he tapped in from Sanchez's cross.
Monday 13th March
Chelsea 1 Manchester United 0
Chelsea remained firmly on course for a domestic Double as N'Golo Kante's second-half winner settled a stormy FA Cup quarter-final meeting with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. United manager Jose Mourinho was involved in touchline clashes with opposite number Antonio Conte and was verbally abused by Chelsea fans at the scene of many of his triumphs, including three titles. The Portuguese was furious when midfielder Ander Herrera was sent off 10 minutes before half-time after a second foul on Eden Hazard, and the managers were kept apart moments later after Marcos Alonso tumbled to the floor after being brought down. Kante's low 51st-minute drive finally beat defiant United keeper David de Gea, who saved superbly from Hazard and Gary Cahill before the break to keep Mourinho's side in contention before Chelsea made the breakthrough. Marcus Rashford, who came off his sick bed to play - with Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, and Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial injured, created United's best chance for himself but Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois saved with his feet to set up a semi-final against Tottenham at Wembley.
And here is the Semi Final line up:-
Saturday 22nd April
Chelsea VS Tottenham Hotspur (at Wembley, 5.15pm, Live on BBC One)
Sunday 23rd April
Arsenal VS Manchester City (at Wembley, 3pm, Live on BT Sport 1)
So three London sides remain along with one from the North West. Two mouthwatering ties await us and of course my featured match will be the London Derby between Chelsea and Spurs on Saturday evening. Watch this space!!!
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