Sunday’s FA Cup Round-Up

Today saw two games in the FA Cup for two teams to try and get through to the semi-finals to join Portsmouth and either Fulham or Tottenham.

Reading 2-4 Aston Villa

Reading who had previously knocked out Liverpool in an earlier round faced Aston Villa at the Madejski Stadium looking for another premiership scalp.

They certainly started as if they were going to get another premiership scalp as they took a surprise lead into half-time with Shane Long getting both goals for the home side. Kebe had a goal disallowed early on for the hosts as the ref saw a foul by Church after Kebe had scored, and soon after Reading got a goal that stood. Howard whipped in a corner for Matthew Mills to flick it on to Shane Long, who managed to break free and nod the ball into the back of the net. Villa came back but for the officials to rule out their goal as the linesman ruled him out for offside – which replays suggest that Carew wasn’t. Long then made it 2-0 3 minutes before half-time as Kebe cut back for the striker to score.

Villa came out in the second half looking to get them back into the game and they certainly did that and got themselves in the lead after only playing 12 minutes. The first goal scored by Ashley Young as a poor clearance by Bertrand saw Downing cutting back for Cuellar and although the defender couldn’t make contact, Young could as he smashed the ball into the back of the net. It was only 4 minutes later when Carew got the equaliser as Downing crossed in for the striker to head past Federici. The momentum was with Villa and Carew got his second of the afternoon 5 minutes after his first. Ashley Young and Warnock combining down the wing for the latter to find the striker who applied the finish. Carew managed to get his hat-trick into added time as he smashed home a penalty in the 93rd minute.

Chelsea 2-0 Stoke

Stoke knocked out title chasing Arsenal in a previous round in the cup and they went to Stamford Bridge hoping to do the same with inconsistent Chelsea and reach the semi-finals.

Unfortunately for the away side they rarely troubled Chelsea and it was Frank Lampard who gave the home side the lead after 27 minutes with a 20 yard drive which got deflected past Stoke keeper Sorensen.

It was captain John Terry who sealed the win for the home side as he headed home from Frank Lampard’s corner.
It will be Terry who will take all the headlines in tomorrow’s paper as the defender scored and put in a solid performance after everything that has come out in the National Press over the last few weeks.

The FA Cup Semi-Finals draw was made after the Chelsea game and the FA Cup holders Chelsea face Aston Villa while Portsmouth fans who will be hoping to reach the final after everything the club has been through over the last few month will have to wait until Fulham and Tottenham play their replay which is scheduled for the 24th of March. The semi-finals will be played on the same weekend, one on Saturday April 10th and the other Sunday April 11th.

FA Cup Semi-Final Draw;

Aston Villa v Chelsea

Fulham/Tottenham v Portsmouth

David Osterland