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Tag: FA Cup

  • Premier League gain extra Europa spot

    Premier League gain extra Europa spot

    The Premier League’s seventh-placed side this season will be placed in the Europa Conference League.

    Chelsea beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley to set up a date with Liverpool – who beat Manchester City 3-2 a day earlier – on May 14.

    But the Blues’ win in North London has affected the European picture for next season.

    The winner of the FA Cup automatically earns a spot in the Europa League.

    And Thomas Tuchel’s side look nailed on to secure third position in the Premier League to qualify for next term’s Champions League.

    That means there would be a Europa League spot up for grabs, with that going to the sixth-placed top-flight side now.

    Had Crystal Palace won the FA Cup, they would have joined the fifth-placed Premier League side in Europe’s second tier.

    But with the Eagles crashing out and a top-four side destined to win the oldest domestic cup competition in the world, an extra European spot has opened up for English sides.

    That means the team which finishes seventh will now grab a spot in the Europa Conference League.

  • Guardiola defends team selection after Manchester City’s FA Cup exit

    Guardiola defends team selection after Manchester City’s FA Cup exit

    Pep Guardiola had no regrets over his selection after Manchester City’s treble bid ended with defeat to rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday in London.

    Manchester City manager Guardiola saw his side go down 3-2 at Wembley after making seven changes to the team.

    It was the team that came through a bruising UEFA Champions League clash at Atletico Madrid in midweek.

    One of those changes saw second-choice goalkeeper Zack Steffen come in for Ederson.

    The American made a poor mistake to gift a goal to Sadio Mane after Ibrahima Konate had given Liverpool an early lead.

    With Mane volleying in a second on the stroke of half-time, Manchester City were 3-0 down at the interval and staring at a heavy defeat.

    Guardiola, however, defended his players and was pleased with their response in the second half.

    The Spaniard said: “I have a lot of confidence in my players and selections. I trust a lot of them.

    “We had a terrible run of fixtures and travel and a lot of important games. That’s why we needed fresh legs.

    “We started well but after one set-piece, where Liverpool are so strong, and the second was an accident, it was tough.

    “Then we conceded a third in the last minute of the first half.

    “In the first half we were so passive, we were scared to support people when we went there. But in the second half we had the momentum, we had the most clear chances.”

    Guardiola was particularly supportive of Steffen, who dwelt too long on a backpass from Nathan Ake and lost control, allowing Mane to slide in and score.

    He said: “It’s an accident, it happens. Edi (Ederson) was close (to making a similar mistake) in the last game (against Liverpool) as well.

    “We need that to create our football. Mane was quicker and that’s all.

    “I’m pretty sure Zack didn’t want to do it. Sometimes strikers miss chances in front of goalkeepers, but goalkeepers are punished more.”

    Guardiola said he was limited in his selection choices by injuries.

    Substitutes Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan remained on the bench due to knocks and Kyle Walker was not involved at all.

    The Spaniard has little time to dwell on the matter, with the leaders’ attention turning back to their Premier League title challenge with Wednesday’s visit of Brighton.

    Guardiola said: “When you play a lot of games, and you don’t have that big a squad, it is difficult.

    “When everybody is fit, it’s OK. But when we have a few injuries, it is not enough.

    “We’ve had Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool in a short time.

    “We can rotate some players but we know when we arrive at this stage of the season and you are fighting for the titles there is no time to rest.”

  • EPL: Title race continues as Man City, Liverpool share spoils at Etihad Stadium

    EPL: Title race continues as Man City, Liverpool share spoils at Etihad Stadium

    The fight for the Premier League title continues as table toppers, Manchester City and Liverpool on Sunday shared the spoils in an enthralling encounter at the Etihad Stadium.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Man City and Liverpool played out a 2:2 draw with the result seeing the hosts retain their narrow one-point advantage in the Premier League title race.

    Kevin De Bruyne, Diogo Jota, Gabriel Jesus and Sadio Mane were all on target in the enthralling encounter that did little to confirm who the 2021/22 Premier League champions will be.

    De Bruyne got the hosts off to a good start before Jota equalised for Liverpool soon after Jesus restored the lead for City before the break.

    However, Mane got the Reds back on terms seconds after the restart and neither side was able to find a winner that could have been the decisive moment in the title race.

    City’s one-point lead remains with seven matches to go, and the teams will meet again next weekend at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals.

  • FA CUP: Lukaku’s 15th goal of the season books Chelsea in last eight

    FA CUP: Lukaku’s 15th goal of the season books Chelsea in last eight

    Belgian footballer, Romelu Lukaku’s 15th goal of the season on Wednesday saw off Luton’s spirited challenge and booked Chelsea in the last eight of the FA Cup, with a 3-2 fifth-round victory at Kenilworth Road.

    Chelsea weathered a tumultuous evening off the pitch and an early Luton onslaught and twice came from behind.

    Roman Abramovich confirmed his intention to sell Chelsea an hour before kick-off, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the seismic news unsettled Thomas Tuchel’s side, who were behind after 102 seconds as Reece Burke’s glancing header gave Luton the dream start.

    Chelsea settled as the half progressed and deservedly drew level when Saul Niguez curled home a fine equaliser (27), but back roared Luton as Harry Cornick rounded off a brilliant team goal to restore the hosts’ lead five minutes before the break.

    Tuchel sent his Chelsea players out for the second half early and, with instructions clearly still ringing in their ears, they responded as Timo Werner leveled the tie for the second time (68) before Romelu Lukaku’s 15th goal of the season (78) finally saw off Luton’s spirited challenge and booked a place in the last eight.

    Chelsea’s extra power and nous eventually applied enough of a squeeze to subdue the Hatters and secure their passage through to round six, where the Blues will have their eyes on domestic cup success of a different kind after Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat against Liverpool.

  • Liverpool ease past Cardiff into FA Cup fifth round

    Liverpool ease past Cardiff into FA Cup fifth round

    Liverpool Football Club beat a young Cardiff City side 3-1 in the 2021/2022 FA Cup in England on Sunday at Anfield to advance to the fifth round.

    They did so with second-half goals from Diogo Jota, Takumi Minamino and Harvey Elliott.

    After a goalless first half, Liverpool’s perseverance paid off eight minutes into the second period.

    That was when Jota rose highest to head home a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross from a set piece for his 15th goal of the season in all competitions.

    Liverpool doubled the lead when a defensive mix-up allowed new 45 million-euro (51.5 million dollars) signing Luis Diaz to steal the ball in Cardiff’s box.

    He cut back after some nifty footwork to slid to Minamino who fired home.

    Midfielder Elliott then marked his return to action after ankle surgery earlier this season with a dazzling strike.

    He expertly controlled a cross from Andy Robertson before turning on the spot and volleying home.

    Cardiff pulled one back as a consolation when 19-year-old Rubin Colwill initiated a counter-attack after stealing the ball in midfield.

    He finished it with aplomb with a shot from the edge of the box.

    Liverpool will host Norwich City in the fifth round.

  • Chelsea edge past Plymouth in FA Cup fourth round

    Chelsea edge past Plymouth in FA Cup fourth round

    Chelsea edged out League One Plymouth Argyle after extra time to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

    Marcos Alonso’s extra-time goal gave Chelsea a 2-1 win over Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup fourth round at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, despite the visitors being given a late penalty.

    Chelsea were without head coach Thomas Tuchel after he tested positive for COVID-19 a few hours before kick-off and they needed 120 minutes to edge past their League One opponents.

    The hosts had three attempts at goal in the opening five minutes but it was Plymouth who opened the scoring, with Macaulay Gillesphey flicking in a header from Jordan Houghton’s curling free-kick after seven minutes.

    Chelsea dominated the remainder of the half but hit the woodwork three times before Cesar Azpilicueta finally found an equaliser in the 39th minute.

    The frustration continued for Tuchel’s side after the break, with a couple of stunning saves from Plymouth goalkeeper Michael Cooper keeping the score level and taking the game to extra time.

    It took until the 106th minute for Alonso to find Chelsea’s winner, sliding in a first-time finish from a Kai Havertz cross.

    Plymouth had a chance to equalise with two minutes to go after Ryan Hardie was awarded a penalty, but the striker’s attempt was saved by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to take his side into the fifth round.

  • FA Cup: Elanga racially abused on social media following penalty kick miss

    FA Cup: Elanga racially abused on social media following penalty kick miss

    Manchester United forward Anthony Elanga was racially abused on social media after his penalty kick shoot-out miss against Middlesbrough on Friday night.

    Elanga struck his kick over the bar to seal an 8-7 shootout success for the Championship side in the 2021/2022 English FA Cup fourth round clash at Old Trafford.

    Aberdeen striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was among those to highlight the abuse suffered by Elanga on Instagram in the aftermath of the defeat.

    The teenager received a number of racist comments on his latest post on the social media platform.

    Kick It Out, an organisation fighting racial abuse, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, are yet to respond to this development.

    Nineteen-year-old Elanga has made nine appearances for Manchester United this season and scored one goal.

    Manchester United teammate Marcus Rashford, who was subjected to online racist abuse after missing a penalty kick in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy last summer, has however offered his support to Elanga.

    The player had been consoled by teammates on the pitch after the match.

    But Rashford said on Twitter: “Anthony Elanga. Get that head of yours up immediately.”

    Ross County’s Regan Charles-Cook and Rangers’ Nnamdi Ofoborh have also suffered abuse this year.

    Under new laws, racist football fans who troll players will be banned from matches in England and Wales for up to 10 years.

    The law is expected to be introduced as an amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

    Football banning orders bar the individual from going to regulated football matches for three to 10 years.

    There are 1,359 orders in force across England and Wales, according to the latest Home Office figures

  • FA Cup: Middlesbrough shock Man Utd as Rangnick left ‘incredibly disappointed’

    FA Cup: Middlesbrough shock Man Utd as Rangnick left ‘incredibly disappointed’

    Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup as Championship side Middlesbrough came from behind at Old Trafford and then emerged victorious in a nail-biting 16-shot penalty shootout.

    Young striker Anthony Elanga ballooned his shot over the bar to give Chris Wilder’s side a win that was celebrated in enthusiastic fashion by a 9,000-strong visiting support.

    It was only the second time in 11 meetings with Premier League opposition that Middlesbrough had progressed, following on from their equally surprising success at Manchester City in 2015.

    United will complain about Middlesbrough’s controversial equaliser, scored by Matt Crooks, who tapped home despite Duncan Watmore clearly handling in the build-up.

    However, they only had themselves to blame after failing to take numerous chances in a game where they had 30 shots at goal, the clearest of which came when Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in the first half.

    Jadon Sancho seemed to have put United on the road to the last- 6 when he marked his FA Cup debut with a goal.

    Instead, United’s most realistic chance of silverware has now disappeared.

    United manger Ralf Rangnick later said: “Incredibly disappointed, we should have won and killed off the game in the first half. Crossbar, post, missed penalty and numerous chances. It should have been 2-0 or 3-0. We conceded a goal which I don’t understand why it stood. He controlled it with his hand.

    “In the moment when they scored, it was clear that VAR would not allow this goal to stand. We were not well positioned in that moment, too open and allowed them the counter, we should have won the game.

    “Anthony Elanga, anyone can imagine how he us, he is shattered and absolutely disappointed. It was the eighth penalty which had all converted.”

    Tribalfootball

  • FA Cup: Two Aston Villa goals disallowed as Man Utd reach fourth-round

    FA Cup: Two Aston Villa goals disallowed as Man Utd reach fourth-round

    Manchester United have scrapped past Aston Villa to reach the FA Cup fourth-round.

    The Red Devils claimed a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford as Villa saw two goals disallowed in a spirited second-half display.

    Scott McTominay got United off to the perfect start after he linked up with midfield partner Fred to score the opener after just eight minutes.

    The Scotland international rose majestically to head home Fred’s precise cross into the box.

    Both teams had plenty of chances for the remainder of the first-half.

    And Villa thought they had squared things up shortly after the break, only for Danny Ings to see his goal overturned after a long consultation with VAR.

    It was deemed that Jacob Ramsey blocked off Edinson Cavani in the build-up, much to the ire of Villa and their travelling support.

    Ollie Watkins was then correctly ruled offside when he poked the ball into an empty net with 59 minutes on the clock.

    Steven Gerrard’s side continued to press for an equaliser, which they deserved after getting the better of United across the 90 minutes.

    However, Ralf Rangnick’s side held on for a confidence boosting victory.

    They will now face Middlesbrough in the fourth-round.

  • FA Cup: Man Utd get Gerrard’s Aston Villa in fourth round [Full draw]

    FA Cup: Man Utd get Gerrard’s Aston Villa in fourth round [Full draw]

    The FA Cup fourth-round draw is in.

    Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa will travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, while Arsenal must make the trip to Nottingham Forest.

    Liverpool host Shrewsbury at home and Chelsea will welcome non-league Chesterfield to Stamford Bridge.

    Holders Leicester have received a home tie with Watford.

    Manchester City will take on League Two side Swindon Town.

    The ties will take place over the weekend of Friday 7 until Monday 10 January 2022.

     

    FA CUP FOURTH-ROUND DRAW IN FULL:

    Boreham Wood or St Albans City vs AFC Wimbledon

    Yeovil Town vs AFC Bournemouth

    Stoke City vs Leyton Orient

    Swansea City vs Southampton

    Chelsea vs Chesterfield

    Liverpool vs Shrewsbury Town

    Cardiff City vs Preston North End

    Coventry City vs Derby County

    Burnley vs Huddersfield Town

    West Bromwich Albion vs Brighton & Hove Albion

    Kidderminster Harriers vs Reading

    Leicester City vs Watford

    Mansfield Town vs Middlesbrough

    Hartlepool United vs Blackpool

    Hull City vs Everton

    Bristol City vs Fulham

    Tottenham Hotspur vs Morecambe

    Millwall vs Crystal Palace

    Port Vale vs Brentford

    Swindon Town vs Manchester City

    Wigan Athletic vs Blackburn Rovers

    Luton Town vs Harrogate Town

    Birmingham City vs Plymouth Argyle

    Manchester United vs Aston Villa

    Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Sheffield United

    Newcastle United vs Cambridge United

    Barnsley vs Ipswich Town or Barrow

    Peterborough United vs Bristol Rovers

    West Ham United vs Leeds United

    Queens Park Rangers vs Rotherham United

    Charlton Athletic vs Norwich City

    Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal