![]() |
| Photo from BBC Sport |
Andre Gray came off the bench to score for Watford, his goal the difference against Crystal Palace.
Etienne Capoue had given the Hornets the lead with a close range finish before Adrian Mariappa's mistake gifted the Eagles a goal.
The former Palace defender was dispossessed by Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi who finished coolly into the bottom corner for 1-1.
Gray came on for Will Hughes and fired past Vincente Guaita to send his team to Wembley for their sixth FA Cup semi-final.
Troy Deeney's powerful effort was well saved and Aaron Wan-Bissaka made a trademark interception on Gerard Deulofeu to keep Watford from increasing their lead.
![]() |
| Photo from BBC Sport |
Sergio Aguero scored a controversial late winner to ensure Manchester City dramatically kept their quadruple bid on track.
The Citizens had come from two goals down to level when substitute Aguero beat Swansea keeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt with a diving header off Bernardo Silva's low cross in the 88th minute.
Replays showed the Argentina striker was marginally offside but as the Liberty Stadium is no longer a Premier League club, there was no VAR to bail out Championship Swansea.
The visitor's equaliser was contentious too, Cameron Carter-Vickers conceded a penalty for a seemingly soft foul on Raheem Sterling, Aguero converted from the spot with the help from the post and Nordfeldt's back.
Matt Grimes' penalty and Bersant Celina's curled finish had given the Swans the lead within half an hour.
The latter had missed a penalty on Wednesday against West Brom, but atoned for his error with a stunning first time finish against his former club.
City's strong starting eleven was not enough to beat Swansea outright, with Sterling and Aguero both coming off the bench and influencing all three goals, the latter assisted Bernardo Silva to spark their thrilling comeback in the last half hour.
This match showcased in no uncertain terms why all stadia should have VAR.
Swansea were punished because they are no longer in the Premier League and do not have VAR installed, which is surely against the spirit of the FA Cup.
The Cup is supposed to act as a leveller, but Premier League clubs are still being given a huge advantage with the system installed.
![]() |
| Photo from BBC Sport |
Wolves dominated Manchester United to make their first FA Cup semi-final for over twenty years.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side were in their first quarter-final since 2003, and deserved their victory against a poor United performance.
Cup goalkeeper Sergio Romero had kept United level with brilliant saves from Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez either side of the interval, but the latter scored with a great turn and finish mid-way through the second period.
Jota then doubled their lead with a stunning counter-attack, shurgging off Luke Shaw and shooting low past Romero.
United defender Victor Lindelof had his red card over ruled by VAR, it was downgraded to a yellow after a strong challenge on Jota.
Even though Marcus Rashford pulled one back in stoppage time, Wolves were worthy winners.
I don't understand the sudden hysteria and doubt of Solskjaer's credentials as United manager.
He's lost two game in a row but both of those matches were against teams who had to play at their very best to beat United.
The truth is that the winning run wasn't going to continue forever, so the sooner that that is forgotten about, the better.
He doesn't need that hanging over him going into the business end of the season.
![]() |
| Photo from BBC Sport |
Brighton reached their first FA Cup semi-final in 36 years, coming from two goals down to win on penalties against 10-man Millwall.
Alex Pearce and Aiden O'Brien had given the Lions the lead, but Locadia halved the deficit with a good finish on the half-volley.
Solly March levelled with a stoppage-time free-kick after a mistake that can only be described as reminiscent of David Seaman at the 2002 World Cup.
March was not looking for goal but his high floated ball caught out David Martin, who had not read the flight of the ball correctly and saw it fly into the top corner.
Brighton's Glenn Murray hit the bar with the first penalty of the shootout, but Seagulls' keeper Mat Ryan saved Mahlon Romeo's spot-kick with his foot to give his side hope.
Lewis Dunk converted the first of the sudden death penalties, before Cooper put his attempt over the bar to hand victory to the Premier League side.
Semi-Final Draw
Manchester City v Brighton
Watford v Wolves
Manchester City will be clear favourites for the Cup now, but Brighton have earned their place at Wembley and will surely test the 2013 finalists, but I think the second semi-final could be a cracker.
Whoever wins out of the 'W' teams will believe they can win the title, and at this stage of the competition, nothing is a given.
Follow me on Twitter
Check out my YouTube channel




No comments:
Post a Comment