After an explosive weekend of FA Cup drama, we’re down to four: Brighton and Hove Albion, Sheffield United and…Manchester City and Manchester United.
The Seagulls have been drawn against the Red Devils while Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United face Pep Guardiola’s tournament favourites. So are the stars aligned for an all-Manchester final? They could well be, but Brighton and the Blades will have plenty to say when they head to Wembley for the semi-finals on Sunday 22nd April.
The most incredible action came at Old Trafford where Manchester United had a tough assignment at home to Fulham. The visitors outplayed their hosts for much of the game and looked to be heading for the semi-finals after Alexsandar Mitrovic gave them a deserved second-half lead. But moments after David de Gea had pulled off a world-class save to keep out another effort from the Serb, the Cottagers’ afternoon turned from triumph to disaster is a mad couple of minutes.
Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho rounded Fulham keeper Bernd Leno but his angled drive was blocked on the line by Willian. The Fulham winger’s arms were tight in his body as he made the close-range block. But up stepped VAR and the technology spotted that the ball hit the player’s hand and referee Chris Kavanagh awarded a penalty.
Was it a clear and obvious error? Not in real time it wasn’t, but I’m sure someone can explain the VAR guidelines to me someday.
And then the Manchester United fans’ Christmases all came at once. Kananagh red-carded Willian, furious Fulham head coach Marco Silva stepped outside his technical area and he too was red carded. Then Mitrovic stepped over the line when he pushed the ref in his arm and he too saw red.
Game over.
Bruno Fernandes converted the penalty and the Old Trafford crowd celebrated wildly as Marcel Sabitzer and Fernandes again put the nine defeated men of Fulham to the sword as the Red Devils ran out 3-1 winners.
Manchester United are still in the Europa League and already have the Carabao Cup in their possession, so their fans are dreaming of a knockout treble.
City are clicking through the gears
Manchester City followed up a 7-0 destruction of Red Bull Leipzig in the Champions League with a 6-0 education for the Championships runaway leaders, Burnley, in the FA Cup. City legend Vincent Kompany brought his young Clarets to his spiritual home and they matched their illustrious hosts for much of the first half. But a brilliant finish from Erling Braut Haaland opened the floodgates as he completed his sixth hat-trick of the season, while Julian Alvarez added a classy brace and substitute Cole Palmer also joined in the rout.
The Sky Blues were simply sensational and, on this form, it is hard to see anyone living with them, though they have work to do to catch Arsenal in the Premier League. The FA Cup 2023 betting odds make them favourites as do the SBOTOP prices in the Champions League. It’s going to be another exciting run in for the Sky Blues.
For Burnley, this is not a sign of things to come when they make their inevitable return to the top flight…they only have to play Manchester City twice a season!
Mariners’ adventure comes to an end
Conference club Grimsby Town have been the big FA Cup 2023 news story this year, reaching the quarter-finals after seeing off Premier League club Southampton in the fifth round and Championship high flyers Luton Town in the fourth. But Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton proved to be a step too far for the heroic Mariners as the Seagulls picked them off on the South Coast. Evan Ferguson with two, Deniz Undav, Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma all got on the scoresheet as Brighton booked their semi-final place with a 5-0 win.
Sheffield United make up the final four after coming out the right side of a five-goal thriller in the all-Championship clash against Blackburn Rovers. The Lancashire side was 2-1 ahead with ten minutes to play after Ben Brereton Diaz and Sam Szmodics put them in charge, either side of a Sam Gallagher own goal. But a leveller from Ollie McBurnie, on 81 minutes, set up a grandstand finish and it was a stunning strike from Tommy Doyle which lifted the roof off the Bramhall Lane Stadium as the Blades booked a semi-final place for the first time since 2014.
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