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Man City late shows books place in FA Cup semi-finals
LONDON, March 21, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Manchester City’s quest for an
unprecedented quadruple of trophies remains intact after seeing off Everton
2-0 to reach the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday as Southampton also booked
their place in the last four.
City were far from their flowing best at Goodison Park, but goals in the
final six minutes from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne booked City’s place
in the semi-finals for the fourth time in five seasons.
Pep Guardiola described the clash as the toughest his side have had since
November as they recorded a 25th win in 26 matches in all competitions.
“It was the toughest game since the last international break we had. We
have been incredible in terms of results and performances (over that
period),” said Guardiola.
“Tonight was so difficult, they have experienced players behind the ball
with two up for the counter-attack.
“It was incredible commitment from my players. An incredible victory.”
City won the domestic treble of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup for
the first time in English football history two seasons ago and are firm
favourites to repeat that feat.
Guardiola’s men are 14 points clear at the top of the Premier League, face
struggling Tottenham in the League Cup final next month and were drawn
against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on
Friday.
Oleksandr Zinchenko cleared Everton defender Yerry Mina’s header off the
line with the best effort either side mustered before half-time.
Joao Virginia started in goal for The Toffees for just the second time due
to injuries to regular goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Robin Olsen.
However, the 21-year-old Portuguese stopper produced a brilliant save early
in the second-half to prevent Raheem Sterling converting Fernandinho’s
pinpoint low cross.
Guardiola was forced to introduce Riyad Mahrez and De Bruyne off the bench
in the final quarter.
But it was Aymeric Laporte who opened Everton up as he broke forward from
centre-back before Virginia brilliantly turned the Frenchman’s initial effort
onto the crossbar.
Gundogan was following up, though, to head into an empty net and end the
resistence from Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
De Bruyne then wrapped up the tie with a thundering finish in stoppage time
as Everton appealed in vain for a high boot by Mahrez on Mina.
– Chance to ‘write history’ –
Southampton cast aside their Premier League struggles to ease past
Bournemouth 3-0 to reach the semi-finals.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have slumped into the Premier League relegation
battle after losing 10 of their last 12 top-flight matches.
But the Saints have been immune to those woes in the FA Cup and booked a
place in the Wembley semi-finals thanks to Nathan Redmond’s double after
Moussa Djenepo’s opener.
While Premier League survival is the priority, Hasenhuttl insisted the FA
Cup was a “big target” and he made just two changes against a Bournemouth
team who sat seventh in the Championship.
“I’m definitely happy, not only for coming to the next round but also for
seeing a performance from my team that was very lively and by far one of the
better ones in the (recent) past,” said Hasenhuttl.
“I said in January that now is the time to take this chance because it’s
always a good chance for a smaller club like we are to write history.”
In Sunday’s two quarter-finals, Manchester United travel to Leicester in a
clash between the teams second and third in the Premier League, while Chelsea
aim to continue Thomas Tuchel’s unbeaten start in charge at Stamford Bridge
against managerless Sheffield United.
BSS/AFP/FI/0835 hrs