Saturday 17th
March
Manchester United 2
Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Goals from Romelu
Lukaku and Nemaja Matic saw The Red Devils reach the Semi Finals of the
Emirates FA Cup after they saw off Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford
in their Quarter Final tie.
The hosts were looking to bounce back from their
disappointing Champions League exit at the hands of Sevilla in midweek whilst
The Seagulls were in a decent run of form and fancied their chances of an upset
at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.
The first opening saw United Anthony Martial and Juan Mata
exchange one two’s on the edge of the box before the latter’s effort was
deflected wide of the target, and from the resultant corner from Mata, the ball
eventually fell to Chris Smalling, and the defender fired an effort off the
outside of the visitors post.
The visitors then went close for the first time when a
corner found Lewis Dunk who lost his marker to power a header at goal, only to
see Sergio Romero equal to it and palm away superbly to keep the scoreline at
0-0.
But with eight minutes of the first half remaining the hosts
broke the deadlock, when a superb ball in by Matic found Lukaku, and from point
blank range sent a powerful header into the back of the net and the home side
had a slender lead at the break.
Half Time Manchester
United 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
The visitors came out with the bit between their teeth in
the second half and created the half’s first chance when a ball laid across to Pascal
Gross on the edge of the box saw him hit across an effort which ended up going
inches wide of the post, and then the Seagulls went close again when a poor
header out was controlled by Jurgen Locadia before he sent a decent effort at
goal which Romero saved well.
Brighton came again and this time a cross by Solly March
found Locadia at the back post, however the latters header went just over the
top of the bar, and United could breathe a sigh of relief again.
The home fans were getting ever more frustrated with their
teams performance as it looked like the visitors could quite easily find an
equaliser and force extra time, however with six and a half minutes remaining Ashley
Young sent in a free-kick towards the back post and saw Matic send a downward
header into the far corner and seal the win for the home side.
It was tough on Brighton who really took the game to United
in the second period, however the hosts got the job done in the end and they
are the ones who go through to the final four of this seasons competition.
Full Time Manchester
United 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
Here are some images
from the day, courtesy of Brighton & Hove Albion FC:-
Right let’s see how the
other three Quarter Finals panned out:-
Saturday 17th March
Swansea City 0
Tottenham Hotspur 3
Christian Eriksen scored twice as Tottenham
reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for a second successive season with a
comfortable win at Liberty Stadium. Fabulous first-half goals from
Eriksen and Erik Lamela set Spurs on their way as they chase a ninth FA Cup win.
Eriksen's second made the result safe just past the hour mark. Tottenham
might even have had the game sewn up by half-time, but Son Heung-min's effort
was ruled out for offside after consultation with the video assistant referee
(VAR). Spurs are seeking a first trophy since they won the 2008 League
Cup.
Sunday 18th March
Wigan Athletic 0 Southampton 2
Mark Hughes called Southampton's win
over Wigan "a statement of intent" as they reached the FA Cup
semi-finals in his first game in charge. Pierre-Emile
Hojbjerg fired in from a second-half corner, shortly after Christian Walton had
saved his header. Wigan's keeper then
made an outstanding save from Manolo Gabbiadini's penalty after Dan Burn had
brought down the striker. Cedric Soares slotted past Walton to confirm the win
in stoppage time. It was a good start for Hughes, who replaced Mauricio Pellegrino as Southampton boss this week after he was sacked with the club
one point above the Premier League relegation zone. He said his side "stood up to Wigan"
after the League One promotion contenders created a number of chances
throughout the game. Shortly before Cedric's goal - like Hojbjerg's, his first
for the club - Paul Cook's side almost grabbed an equaliser through Noel Hunt,
whose sidefoot volley was headed over the bar by Southampton defender Jack
Stephens. Wigan could have scored in the first half too as Gary Roberts, Will
Grigg and Cheyenne Dunkley all came close. Roberts' effort looped over the bar
after Dunkley almost poked home Burn's deflected strike in an exciting half
full of chances. Southampton had the
upper hand after the break, though, as they booked a place in the last four for
the first time since 2003.
Leicester City 1 Chelsea 2 (aet)
Pedro's extra-time winner gave Chelsea victory
at Leicester City to set up an FA Cup semi-final date with Southampton at
Wembley. Antonio Conte's side dug deep after
the midweek Champions League defeat in Barcelona to keep their hopes of
silverware alive as they survived an attacking assault from the Foxes. Alvaro Morata took Willian's pass in
his stride to beat Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel in composed fashion to
give Chelsea the advantage just before half-time. But Jamie Vardy made amends for a poor headed miss when he
pounced in a goalmouth scramble for a 76th-minute equaliser. The decisive moment came
just before the interval in extra time when Chelsea substitute Pedro beat the
onrushing Schmeichel to N'Golo Kante's cross and headed in the winner.
So all that meant there were just four left in the FA Cup for this
season, and here is the semi final lineup:-
Saturday 21st April
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur (5:15pm, at Wembley Stadium)
Sunday 22nd April
Chelsea vs Southampton (3pm, at Wembley Stadium)
My featured tie of the round is the mouth-watering clash
between Manchester United and Spurs in Saturday evening’s tie. However
I will bring reports on both ties as I may well attend both semi finals myself,
so watch this space. Spurs obviously are
playing at their ‘home’ stadium in this one and did beat the Red Devils quite
comfortably in the league match they played there, so will that count for
anything? In the other tie you would
expect Chelsea to win through however you just never know what can happen in
the cup, especially a semi final, however Chelsea are well experienced in cup semis
at Wembley, were as The Saints haven’t been in the semi finals of the Cup since
2003, however they did play in the League Cup final last season, so have recent
experience. Promises to be a good
weekend of FA Cup Semi Final action.
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