FA Cup Sixth Round

Four games, six Premier League clubs, two almost huge upsets, 10 goals, a penalty shootout, 13 yellow cards and a red in extra time at The Den.

 

Saturday

Watford v Crystal Palace 

2-1

Andre Gray scored two minutes after coming on as a substitute in the second half to send Watford into the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

The Hornets had opened the scoring through Etienne Capoue‘s instinctive finish before Michy Batshuayi leveled the playing field for the Eagles, cooling finishing after dispossessing Adrian Mariappa.

Soon after he’d replace Will Hughes, Gray fired one home past Vincente Guaita to send his side into only their sixth FA Cup semi-final.

After their second goal the hosts looked the side more likely to score again, as Troy Deeney saw his effort well saved and Aaron Wan-Bissaka made a crucial interception to keep Gerard Deulofeu out in the closing stages.

Javi Garcia‘s Watford have now beaten Palace three times this season, having done the double over them in the Premier League.

The Hornets face Wolves at Wembley in the semi-finals

Up Next:

Premier League

Man United v Watford – Saturday, March 30th (11am)

Palace v Huddersfield – Saturday, March 30th (11am)

 

Swansea City v Manchester City

2-3

Sergio Aguero‘s controversial late winner secured a dramatic win for Manchester City, keeping their bid for the quadruple on track, coming from two goals down to beat Swansea and reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

Aguero, on as a substitute, beat Swansea’s Kristoffer Nordfeldt with a diving header, but replays show he was marginally offside. The VAR system was not in use at the Liberty Stadium, despite having been used in City’s third and fourth-round ties at the Etihad Stadium.

City equalized in contentious circumstances when Cameron Carter-Vickers was judged to have tripped Raheem Sterling in the box, Aguero‘s penalty hit the post before rebounding off Nordfeldt for an own goal.

The defeat was torrid on the impressive hosts, who took a 2-0 lead inside 30 minutes, through Matt Grimes‘ penalty and Bersant Celina‘s gorgeous second.

City will face Brighton in their semi-final at Wembley.

 

Up Next:

Championship

Nottingham Forest v Swansea – Saturday, March 30th (11am)

Premier League

Fulham v Man City – Saturday, March 30th (8:30am)

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United 

2-1

Wolves produced an outstanding second-half performance to overpower the Red Devils and reach their first FA Cup semi-final in 21 years.

The hosts, playing in their first quarter-final since 2003, fully deserved their victory as the visitors produced arguably their worst performance under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær. 

Sergio Romero, in for David de Gea, had kept Man United level with brilliant saves on Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez‘s efforts either side of the break, before the Mexican striker finally gave Wolves the reward they thoroughly deserved with 20 minutes remaining.

Wolverhampton were rampant and it came as no surprise when Jota doubled their lead six minutes later after shrugging of Luke Shaw on the break and shooting low past the exposed Romero.

United’s Victor Lindelof was initially shown a red card by referee Martin Atkinson for a challenge on Jota, but VAR downgraded it to a yellow.

Marcus Rashford scored a consolation for the visitors in stoppage time.

Wolves will face Watford at Wembley in their semi-final.

 

Up Next:

Premier League

Burnley v Wolves – Saturday, March 30th (11am)

Man United v Watford – Saturday, March 30th (11am)

 

Sunday

 

Millwall v Brighton & Hove Albion

2-2 (4-5 penalties)

Brighton overcame a two goal deficit with two minutes left before beating 10-man Millwall on penalties to reach their first FA Cup semi-final since 1983.

Alex Pearce and Aiden O’Brien gave the London based Championship club a two goal lead after the break.

Jurgen Locadia made it 2-1 before Solly March equalized from a free-kick deep in stoppage time.

The hosts’ Shane Ferguson was sent off in extra time after bringing his boot down on Shane Duffy‘s leg, before Locadia thought he’d won it with seconds left, only to be wrongly flagged for offside.

The Seagulls’ Glen Murray hit the bar with the first penalty of the shootout, but keeper Mat Ryan saved Mahlon Romeo‘s effort with his foot to give Brighton hope.

The shootout when to sudden death with Lewis Dunk coveting for Brighton, before Jake Cooper sent his attempt over the bar, handing victory to the Premier League side.

Brighton’s win sets up a semi-final affair at Wembley against Manchester City.

 

Up Next:

Championship

Leeds v Millwall – Saturday, March 30th (11am)

Premier League

Brighton v Southampton – Saturday, March 30th (11am)

 

ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN