Ismaila Sarr scores second-half brace as Crystal Palace book FA Cup final spot
Ismaila Sarr scored two second-half goals as Crystal Palace booked their place in the FA Cup final for a third time following a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa at Wembley.
Fa Cup Sport News
Pep Guardiola knows Nottingham Forest provide stern test for Manchester City
Pep Guardiola acknowledges Manchester City need to overcome a formidable defensive unit in Nottingham Forest to reach a third successive FA Cup final.
Millwall charged over homophobic chants aimed at Crystal Palace’s Ben Chilwell
Millwall have been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following homophobic chanting directed at Ben Chilwell during last month’s FA Cup fifth-round tie against Crystal Palace.
Third-division Bielefeld shock holders Leverkusen in German Cup
BIELEFELD, Germany: German Cup holders Bayer Leverkusen suffered a shock 2-1 elimination at Arminia Bielefeld in the semifinals of the competition on Tuesday. Xabi Alonso’s side were heavily favored to reach their second successive final but were outclassed from start to finish by their underdog opponents. Jonathan Tah’s 17th-minute goal was canceled out by a Marius Woerl strike for the hosts three minutes later. Maximilian Grosser’s goal in first-half stoppage time would prove the difference for Bielefeld, who have now beaten four top-division opponents on their way to the final. Bielefeld, who have never made a German Cup final, became just the fourth third-division team to reach the showpiece event. Should Bielefeld win in Berlin in May — they will face either RB Leipzig or Stuttgart — the club will be rewarded with a Europa League spot next season. Home coach Michel Kniat said: “We didn’t need luck at all because we were on the front foot the whole time.” The coach said he “normally wouldn’t have a drink with the players, but tonight I’ll make an exception,” adding that “nobody will go to sleep in this city tonight.” Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich said it was “by far our worst game of the season” and added that “Bielefeld deserved the win tonight, which means we did plenty of things wrong.” Leverkusen coach Alonso came into the game having never lost in 10 matches in the competition and needed just one more victory to beat Louis van Gaal’s all-time record set as Bayern Munich manager. Everything seemed to go according to plan when Leverkusen took the lead after 17 minutes, Tah tapping in unmarked at the far post. The hosts hit back almost immediately however, Woerl taking advantage of a sloppy clearance attempt by
Pereira the last-gasp hero for Al-Ittihad
Danilo Pereira was the hero, grabbing two goals in injury time, as Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Shabab 3-2 in a thrilling King’s Cup semi-final on Tuesday. They will face either Al-Qadsiah or Al-Raed, who play on Wednesday, in the final next month.
Real Madrid hold Real Sociedad in eight-goal thriller to reach Copa del Rey final
MADRID: Real Madrid edged into the Copa del Rey final with a thrilling 4-4 draw against Real Sociedad after extra-time on Tuesday, securing a 5-4 aggregate semifinal victory. Antonio Rudiger decided the pulsating tie with a header in the 115th minute, with Madrid to face Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the final. Real Sociedad, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, took the lead through Ander Barrenetxea, but Endrick’s fine chip pulled the 20-time winners level. A David Alaba own goal and Mikel Oyarzabal’s deflected effort helped La Real open up a lead on the Spanish champions but Madrid battled back with goals from Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni. Oyarzabal grabbed his second in stoppage time to force extra-time but his side could not hold off Madrid until penalties, with Rudiger’s header the final word. Ancelotti brought Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes back into his starting lineup, leaving Kylian Mbappe on the bench to rest, with Endrick taking his place in an all-Brazilian attack. The 18-year-old wonderkid striker who netted the only goal in the first leg, was active in the opening phases, sending a dangerous overhead kick narrowly wide of Alex Remiro’s far post. Bellingham also threatened for the hosts but it was Real Sociedad who took the lead. Barrenetxea broke in behind Lucas Vazquez to reach Pablo Marin’s flick-on and drilled a low finish home to put the Basques level in the tie. Real Madrid soon found their equalizer.
Saka scores on return from injury as Arsenal trims gap to Liverpool to 9 points in Premier League
LONDON: Bukayo Saka marked his first appearance in more than three months by scoring as a substitute in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham that trimmed the gap to Premier League leader Liverpool to nine points on Tuesday. The England winger entered in the 66th minute to a huge ovation after his long absence because of a hamstring injury and, within seven minutes, was taking the acclaim of the Arsenal fans again after nodding home the second goal at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Merino scored the 37th-minute opener for second-place Arsenal, which require an unlikely collapse by Liverpool if they are to capture their first league title since 2004. Liverpool host Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, after which there are eight rounds left in the Premier League. Rodrigo Muniz grabbed a stoppage-time consolation goal for Fulham. Saka, who has been sidelined since sustaining his injury on Dec. 21 in a league match at Crystal Palace, is back in time to face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals starting next week. Whether Gabriel Magalhaes will be available against the European champions remains to be seen.
Premier League to introduce semi-automated offside technology
LONDON: The Premier League will begin using semi-automated offside technology from April 12, the league announced Tuesday. The technology, which debuted in English soccer in the FA Cup, is designed to enhance “the speed, efficiency, and consistency of offside decision-making,” the league said in a statement.