FA Cup

This is why the FA Cup is the best domestic club tournament in the world. It gives smaller clubs the opportunity to play the big teams, and to sometimes upset them.

Jermaine Beckford’s first-half goal gave third-tier Leeds United a 1-0 victory over bitter rivals Manchester united as Sir Alex Ferguson suffered his first FA Cup third-round defeat since taking the reins at Man United in 1986.

Beckford caused Wes Brown and Jonny Evans problems all game, and was rewarded when he latched onto Johnny Howson’s long pass in the first half and steered his shot across Tomasz Kuszczak.  Read more... (175 words, estimated 42 secs reading time)

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Chelsea recovered from conceding the quickest goal in the 128-year history of the FA Cup final to overcome Everton 2-1, strikes from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard earning a fifth success for the London club.

The final has not seen a major upset since 1995, when Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 to claim their last piece of silverware, but the possibility of an upset improved greatly when Louis Saha scored after just 25 seconds at Wembley. Chelsea, under Guus Hiddink for the last time before he returns to his role as Russia coach, battled back, though, and claimed the trophy for the second time in three years with a goal in either half.  Read more... (327 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

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Tim Howard saved two spot-kicks as Everton ended Manchester United‘s hopes of a quintuple of trophies, winning 4-2 on penalties after a goalless two hours at Wembley to reach their first FA Cup final since overcoming the Red Devils in the 1995 showpiece.

Tim Cahill missed first for Everton before Howard saved Dimitar Berbatov’s effort. The U.S. goalkeeper then did likewise from Rio Ferdinand, after Leighton Baines had scored, and both sides converted their subsequent kicks to leave Phil Jagielka with the honour of deciding the tie in favour of the Merseysiders.  Read more... (271 words, estimated 1:05 mins reading time)

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Didier Drogba’s strike six minutes from time earned Chelsea a 2-1 victory against London rivals Arsenal in the first FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and ended the Gunners’ hopes of a first domestic trophy since 2005.

Having prevented Arsenal from falling behind early on when he raced back to clear Drogba’s goal-bound header, Kieran Gibbs teed up the opener for Theo Walcott on 18 minutes, floating a ball to the far post for the England striker to place a side-foot volley across Petr Čech. Chelsea had played their part in an open contest, though, and equalised a quarter of an hour later when Florent Malouda collected Frank Lampard’s raking crossfield pass, cut inside Emmanuel Eboué and beat Łukasz Fabiański at his near post. The pace was unrelenting and moments later Nicolas Anelka capitalised on Abou Diaby’s hesitancy and curled a shot against the post.  Read more... (270 words, estimated 1:05 mins reading time)

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Arsenal came from behind to beat Hull City 2-1 at the Emirates and book an FA Cup semi-final date with Chelsea at Wembley. - Buy Arsenal – Chelsea Tickets

Furious Hull manager Phil Brown launched a blistering attack on referee Mike Riley as he claimed that Hull were robbed of their Wembley dream. The Tigers boss was livid after William Gallas headed an 84th-minute winner from a clearly offside position.

Yet linesman Andy Garratt, who had earlier ruled out a Nick Barmby effort for a much more marginal decision, kept his flag down.

Brown fumed:  Read more... (653 words, estimated 2:37 mins reading time)

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