Football: Man City crush Chelsea in FA Cup, Villa upset by Stevenage

LONDON -- Manchester City piled pressure on Chelsea boss Graham Potter as Riyad Mahrez inspired a 4-0 rout in the FA Cup third round, while Aston Villa crashed to a stunning 2-1 defeat against fourth tier Stevenage on Sunday.

After Premier League sides Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth were humiliated by lower-league opposition on Saturday, Villa were rocked by Stevenage's two-goal blast in the final minutes.

Premier League champions City rarely suffer such embarrassment and they made the strongest possible start by dismissing abject Chelsea with contemptuous ease at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola made seven changes from the City side that won 1-0 at Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday.

But City were still far too dynamic for struggling Chelsea as Mahrez struck with a brilliant free-kick and a late penalty, with Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden also scoring.

In the fourth round, City will host Premier League leaders Arsenal or third-tier Oxford, who meet on Monday.

City had already eliminated Chelsea from the League Cup this season and the west London club's first FA Cup third-round exit since 1998 was another blow to a season in danger of spiraling out of control.

While it is probably too early for Potter to be fearing the sack, just four months after he arrived from Brighton to replace the axed Thomas Tuchel, the 47-year-old might be having a few sleepless nights as he wrestles with his team's woeful form.

Chelsea have won just three of their last 12 games in all competitions and sit 10th in the Premier League, 10 points adrift of the top four place the club's American owners would surely have expected Potter to deliver.

"The results in a small space of time are not positive. You can make excuses and look for reasons or say it isn't good enough. Both of those answers are correct," Potter said.

"We have to keep improving and stick together because clearly we are suffering as a football club and it's not nice at all."

Potter will hardly have been comforted by the sound of Chelsea fans chanting Tuchel's name as they pine for the German who led them to Champions league glory in 2021.

"I would tell (Chelsea co-owner) Todd Boehly to give Graham Potter time. All coaches need time. At Barca, I didn't need two seasons, but that's because I had Messi," Guardiola said.

Given Chelsea's predicament it was curious that Potter elected to make six changes, with Bashir Humphreys given his debut and fellow teenager Lewis Hall also starting.

Mahrez had scored the winner against Chelsea on Thursday and this time he bent a superb free-kick into the top corner in the 23rd minute.

- Woeful Chelsea -

City's second goal was a gift from Chelsea forward Kai Havertz, who punched the ball as he challenged Aymeric Laporte at a corner, with Alvarez converting the 30th minute penalty.

Chelsea were being torn apart and Foden hit the third goal in the 38th minute, the England forward finishing off Kyle Walker's cross.

Beaten in the last three FA Cup finals, Chelsea's misery was compounded in the 85th minute as Mahrez scored from the spot after Kalidou Koulibaly fouled Foden.

Villa had eight changes against Stevenage and the team currently second in League Two took full advantage.

Morgan Sanson put Villa ahead in the 33rd minute but Jamie Reid equalized with an 88th minute penalty after Leander Dendoncker was sent off for fouling Dean Campbell.

And Campbell sparked wild Stevenage celebrations in the 90th minute when he smashed home from a short corner. 

"It is really special. The chairman just said to me it's the greatest day in his life and he's been with the club for over 20 years," said Stevenage boss Steve Evans, whose side face Championship team Stoke in the fourth round.

Villa boss Unai Emery added: "I'm really sorry for the supporters. Today was really so disappointing."

Leeds escaped with a dramatic 2-2 draw at Cardiff thanks to teenager Sonny Perkins' stoppage-time equalizer after the second tier side raced into a two-goal lead. 

Agence France-Presse

Football: Lukaku strikes as Chelsea reach FA Cup semi-finals

MIDDLESBROUGH -- Thomas Tuchel saluted Chelsea's focus as they reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the third successive season after Romelu Lukaku inspired a 2-0 win against Championship side Middlesbrough on Saturday.

In what could have been a potential upset, Tuchel's team were never troubled as they made it six successive victories since Roman Abramovich put the European champions up for sale.

Unsettled Belgian striker Lukaku opened the scoring with just his second goal in seven games.

Hakim Ziyech increased Chelsea's advantage before the interval at the Riverside Stadium.

The Blues killed off the quarter-final with minimal fuss after that, ensuring a last-four appearance at Wembley in April as they look to reach the final for a third consecutive year.

Chelsea are operating under a special licence allowing them to fulfil fixtures after the UK government sanctions on Abramovich in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A host of bidders submitted their offers to buy Chelsea from Abramovich before Friday's deadline, offering hope that their current predicament will soon be over.

Tuchel admits he is out of the loop with regards to the sale, but the German has impressively kept Chelsea's players focused amid the off-field turmoil.

Chelsea, third in the Premier League and through to the Champions League quarter-finals, have won 12 of their past 13 matches, with the exception the League Cup final penalty shoot-out loss against Liverpool.

"We were very focused and very serious from the beginning. We showed quality in decisive moments and scored two early goals which gave us a comfortable lead, but the effort was huge to not allow big chances," Tuchel said.

"I'm impressed with the players' focus. We accepted the ownership situation because we didn't cause it. It isn't in our hands, but it was important we showed the right spirit and took responsibility.

"This is very good. If you have the talent, it is a responsibility to show it."

It has not all been plain sailing and following a scathing response from Middlesbrough and even their own supporters, Chelsea had withdrawn their request for the quarter-final to be played behind closed doors after they were denied the chance to sell their full allocation of tickets due to the sanctions.

Tuchel feared his squad would have to make a 10-hour bus journey to the match because of limits on the amount they can spend on away travel before the transition to a new owner.

But they were eventually allowed to fly to Teesside, where they comfortably avoided any FA Cup turbulence.

- Extra quality -

Middlesbrough had shocked Manchester United and Tottenham in the previous two rounds, but it quickly became clear there would not be a third scalp.

In the 15th minute, Lukaku gave a glimpse of the predatory instincts that persuaded the Blues to pay a club record £97 million to sign him from Inter Milan last year.

Harried deep inside their own half by Middlesbrough, Thiago Silva and Ziyech combined to neutralise the hosts' pressure in a flurry of passes.

Ziyech guided a superb long pass towards Mount's lung-bursting surge down the right and the England forward whipped over a precise cross that Lukaku met with a clinical finish from six yards.

It was Lukaku's 12th club goal this season and his 16th in the FA Cup since his tournament debut in 2012.

Yet there little sign of a celebration or even a smile from Lukaku, reflecting the difficulties of a campaign that saw him forced to apologise after he hinted he was keen to return to Inter already.

For all Middlesbrough's huffing and puffing, they rarely threatened to rattle Chelsea and the Blues' extra quality was on show again as they doubled their lead in the 31st minute.

A smooth burst of passing from Mount and Mateo Kovacic left Middlesbrough chasing shadows and Ziyech cut in from the right flank to drill a swerving strike into the far corner to mark his 29th birthday in style.

Agence France-Presse

Football: Man City storm back as Man United crash out of FA Cup

LONDON -- Manchester City produced a stunning comeback against Swansea on Saturday to reach the FA Cup semi-finals and keep their quadruple dreams alive as Wolves sent Manchester United crashing out.

Pep Guardiola's team roared back from a two-goal half-time deficit to score three times after the break, with Sergio Aguero grabbing a disputed late winner in a 3-2 victory.

But United were unable to match their city rivals, slipping to a 2-1 defeat at Wolves to hand interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a second consecutive defeat.

In a dramatic game in south Wales, Championship side Swansea were 2-0 up against Premier League leaders City shortly before the half hour through a Matt Grimes penalty and fine strike by Bersant Celina.

But Bernardo Silva pulled a goal back in the 69th minute and the visitors went for the kill, drawing level after an Aguero penalty hit a post and went in off goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

The City pressure intensified and Aguero had the final word in the 88th minute with a stooping header to complete a stunning fightback.

It was a lucky escape for City as replays showed Raheem Sterling was fortunate to win the penalty that led to the equaliser, while Aguero was marginally offside for the winner.

"If it is not penalty, and it is offside like the people say, I'm sorry," Guardiola said.

"They ask all the clubs about the VAR (video assistant referee) and all around Europe the VAR is there and here it's not. I don't like to lose games when the decisions are wrong but the referees don't want to make wrong decisions, but they must be helped." 

Having already won the League Cup and advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals, City remain in the hunt for an unprecedented clean sweep of all four major trophies.

- Off-key United -

Twelve-time FA Cup winners United were below par as they followed up last week's Premier League defeat at Arsenal with a meek exit at Molineux.

Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota sent Wolves into the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 21 years with two goals in six second-half minutes, with United only having Marcus Rashford's late consolation to show for their efforts.

United never convinced and could have lost by more, with Sergio Romero turning Jimenez's header on to the bar and denying Jota.

"I'm very proud of the players. We had composure, shape, good running," said Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo. 

"It means a lot because we know how big Wolves were in the 1950s and 1960s and there are people in the stadium who have memories of that. To try to achieve the same is much, much harder now but we will try step by step."

Disappointed Solskjaer, who had only suffered two defeats in 18 games before the Wolves match, described the performance as "a big step backwards".

"We've had a great run and now we've had two defeats. Against Arsenal we just couldn't score and today was poor, the poorest we've played," he said.

"I'm here until the summer, we've got loads to play for in the league and the Champions League."

In the early game on Saturday Andre Gray came off the bench to fire Watford into last four with a late winner in their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Javi Gracia's side had taken the lead through Etienne Capoue's first-half strike before Michy Batshuayi equalised for Palace after the interval.

Championship side Millwall host Premier League side Brighton on Sunday.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Wimbledon shock West Ham, Millwall stun Everton in FA Cup

LONDON -- AFC Wimbledon revived memories of their Crazy Gang heyday as they knocked Premier League West Ham out of the FA Cup with a 4-2 win in the fourth round on Saturday.

Wimbledon may be bottom of League One, and 58 places adrift of the Hammers, but that didn't stop them being 3-0 up early in the second half, with Scott Wagstaff scoring twice after Kwesi Appiah's opener.

Hammers substitutes Lucas Perez and Felipe Anderson scored to make it 3-2, before Wimbledon's Toby Sibbick, not even born when the club won the 1988 FA Cup final against Liverpool, headed in the winner two minutes from time.

The Hammers were not the only top-flight side beaten by lower league opposition, with Everton losing 3-2 to Millwall in controversial fashion earlier in the day.

League One Shrewsbury, who play in the same division as AFC Wimbledon, came close to a Cup shock of their own before Wolves scored a 93rd-minute equaliser to rescue a 2-2 draw at New Meadow.

Meanwhile, Manchester City's quest for four trophies continued with a 5-0 thrashing of Burnley.

AFC Wimbledon, formed by fans angry when the old Wimbledon FC was effectively relocated from south London to Milton Keynes, took a deserved lead in the 34th minute through Appiah's deflected shot from the edge of the box.

And they were 2-0 up before the break.

Wagstaff ran all the way to the edge of the box unopposed after dispossessing Pedro Obiang on halfway before calmly slotting the past Hammers keeper Adrian.

Then just seconds into the second half, Wagstaff made it 3-0 when, following an Apppiah cross, he scored from 12 yards.

Perez pulled one back in the 57th minute and before Anderson's free-kick raised hope of a Hammers equaliser

But teenage substitute Sibbick then headed in an excellent cross from Anthony Wordsworth to put the result beyond doubt.

"Today's performance shows that we can do it and hopefully now we can pick up some results (in the league). The boys were excellent and worked their socks off all game," Wagstaff told BT Sport.

- Silva bemoans lack of VAR -

Everton twice led at The Den, but were left to rue the lack of VAR at the game as Millwall's second goal, from Jake Cooper, was allowed to stand despite coming off the defender's arm.

However, Marco Silva's men only had themselves to blame after dire defending saw them concede from three set-pieces.

Richarlison's long range effort squirmed through Jordan Archer's grasp to give the visitors a lead that lasted just four minutes when Lee Gregory's header levelled in first-half stoppage time.

Substitute Cenk Tosun restored Everton's advantage before the moment of controversy when the ball ricocheted off Cooper's arm and into an unguarded net.

But with VAR not in use, referee Michael Oliver had to uphold his original decision to give the goal despite Everton's furious protests as the incident was replayed on the big screen.

Worse followed for the Toffees, when Murray Wallace turned home another free-kick into the box in the 94th minute.

"If the competition has VAR for some stadiums then it has to have it in all," said Silva. "Because it doesn't make sense. It was a clear handball."

City boss Pep Guardiola labelled talk of a quadruple as "fantasy" earlier in the week but, after Saturday's performance, Burnley manager Sean Dyche said: "Who is going to stop them winning everything if they are in that mood?"

Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne left City on top before Kevin Long's own-goal and Sergio Aguero's penalty completed the rout.

Wolves knocked out Premier League leaders Liverpool in the last round, but needed a late fightback from 2-0 down to force a replay at Shrewsbury.

Greg Docherty fired Shrewsbury into the lead just two minutes into the second-half before Luke Waterfall's towering header made it 2-0.

Raul Jimenez came off the bench to give the Wolves a lifeline and Matt Doherty equalised three minutes into stoppage time.

Watford won an all-Premier League tie despite Javi Gracia making 11 changes as Andre Gray and Isaac Success scored in a 2-0 victory at Newcastle.

Newport County's fairytale continued as the League Two side, who beat Leicester in round three, equalised in stoppage time to earn a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough.

Frank Lampard's Derby County moved into the last 16 with a hard-fought 1-0 win at League One Accrington Stanley as both sides ended with 10 men.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Chelsea beat Saints to set up FA Cup final against Man Utd

LONDON - A flash of attacking brilliance from Olivier Giroud and an emphatic header from substitute Alvaro Morata earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over struggling Southampton at Wembley on Sunday and an FA Cup final date with Manchester United next month.

Giroud muscled and dribbled past three defenders and flailing keeper Alex McCarthy seconds into the second half to poke the ball home from a pass by the ever-busy Eden Hazard.

"I love to play here (Wembley) and I have been unbeaten here so hopefully for the final we are going to keep it up," Giroud, whose Arsenal side beat Chelsea in the final last year, told BT sport.

Morata, who came on for Giroud, made it two in the 82nd minute, nodding Cesar Azpilicueta's cross into the net.

Relegation-threatened Southampton were outplayed for most of the match, but defended manfully during a dour first half, during which Chelsea forward Willian hit the crossbar.

The Saints were forced to move out of their half after Giroud's goal and came close to equalising in the 72nd minute when Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero's save kept out Nathan Redmond's rasping shot.

They also had a possible goal not given when Charlie Austin was judged to have fouled the keeper. Austin then hit the post in the dying minutes of the game.

Chelsea will meet Jose Mourinho's United at Wembley on May 19 after the Manchester side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the first semi-final on Saturday.

The clash will have added spice because of the tension between former Chelsea boss Mourinho and current coach Antonio Conte.

Hazard, who has played under both managers, said: "We gave everything, we played very good football especially in the second half and controlled the game.

"Now we go to the final and for the championship (Premier League) again and then we can think about the final against Manchester United."

Chelsea are fifth in the league but Hazard said they had not given up hope of making the top four and getting a Champions League spot as well as winning the FA Cup.

(Reporting by Clare Lovell; editing by Clare Fallon)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Football: Lacazette, Morata in unexpected showdown

LONDON - Had the close season panned out as initially expected, Alexandre Lacazette and Alvaro Morata would not be lining up for Arsenal and Chelsea in Sunday's Community Shield at Wembley.

After 14 years at Lyon, Lacazette decided it was time to move on and was reported to have agreed to join up with his France team-mate Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid.

However, Atletico then had a transfer ban upheld over the signing of foreign minors and with the Madrid club barred from registering new players until January 2018, Arsenal stepped in.

Arsenal's fans have been crying out for a top-rank striker ever since Robin van Persie was sold to Manchester United in 2012 and in Lacazette their wish appears to have been granted.

A dead-eyed finisher, the 26-year-old was the top-scoring Frenchman in each of the last three Ligue 1 seasons and left Lyon having scored 113 goals in his last four campaigns.

He cost Arsenal an initial fee of £46.5 million ($60.6 million, 51.6 million euros), making him both Arsenal's biggest ever signing and Lyon's biggest ever sale.

Lacazette will form a potentially devastating attacking trident with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, but manager Arsene Wenger has warned that he will need time to find his feet in north London.

"Sometimes it takes a few months, sometimes it takes very little time," Wenger said.

"The only thing I must say with Lacazette is that week after week, he looks to adapt quickly. But overall I think it will take him one or two months."

Morata's move to England was no surprise, but the Spain international had been earmarked for a move to Manchester United.

Instead, United hijacked Chelsea's attempt to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge and the champions switched their attentions to Morata.

The 24-year-old cost Chelsea £58 million and is due to take the place of Diego Costa, who -- completing the love triangle -- is at loggerheads with the club over his desire to return to Atletico.

- Hazard out -
 
Morata has scored in a Champions League final, netting for Juventus in their 2015 loss to Barcelona, but arrives after a frustrating season as a back-up player at Real Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has claimed Morata was deterred from joining Spurs two years ago due to his fears about the competition he would face from Harry Kane.

But despite the striker's inability to dislodge Karim Benzema from the Madrid starting XI, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte believes he can reach the very top.

"He is a young player and my task is to help him improve and exploit his quality," said the Italian.

"I know he has great quality to become one of the best strikers in the world."

Sunday's game, the traditional curtain-raiser to the English season, is a repeat of last season's FA Cup final.

Having streaked to the title, Conte was seeking to emulate his compatriot Carlo Ancelotti by winning a league and FA Cup Double in his first maiden Chelsea season.

But Arsenal blew Chelsea away with a sensational display, Aaron Ramsey's 79th-minute winner securing a 2-1 win that brought the beleaguered Wenger a record seventh success in the competition.

Sanchez could start on the bench for Arsenal, having only returned to training on Tuesday after being given an extended break following his exertions with Chile at the Confederations Cup in Russia.

Centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, likewise, is short of fitness, after also playing at the tournament, while defender Gabriel and midfield pair Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere are definitely out.

With Costa frozen out and Eden Hazard absent due to a broken ankle, Conte could try out a new-look strike-force of Morata and Michy Batshuayi.

New recruit Tiemoue Bakayoko, formerly of Monaco, has a knee injury, but Victor Moses could play as the suspension incurred by his dismissal in the FA Cup final does not apply in Sunday's game.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Chelsea beat Mourinho's 10-man United to reach Cup semis

LONDON - Chelsea manager Antonio Conte got the upper hand on Jose Mourinho for the second time this season as his double-chasing side beat 10-man Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to reach the FA Cup semi-finals on Monday.

N'Golo Kante's precise 51st minute strike was enough for Conte's team to break United's hold on the Cup after the visitors had Ander Herrera sent off after 35 minutes for a second yellow card -- both for fouls on Eden Hazard.

Premier League leaders' Chelsea's reward is a Wembley clash with Tottenham Hotspur next month, while the other semi-final will be between Arsenal and Manchester City.

United, who face a Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday against Russian side Rostov, were missing the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured Wayne Rooney and offered little threat once Kante had beaten David de Gea with a precise low shot.

Mourinho was spared the humiliation of the 4-0 thrashing his old club dished out in October's league meeting -- his first return to Stamford Bridge since being sacked last season -- but his United side were again found wanting.

Mourinho's frustration boiled over at times and the Portuguese and Italian Conte had to be separated after an angry exchange shortly after Herrera's sending off.

"The game was completely under control (before the red card)," Mourinho, whose players targeted Hazard for especially close attention, told reporters. "They couldn't find what is their game. I cannot be more proud of the players."

Chelsea, chasing the Premier League/FA Cup double they last achieved in 2010, dominated possession and could have scored more goals, though holders United had their moments.

LIVEWIRE HAZARD

Much was made of United's lack of striking options ahead of the game but Mourinho's somewhat depleted side started in confident fashion and Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired just wide in the 13th minute following a strong run by Rashford.

That escape sparked Chelsea into life though, particularly Hazard who was soon skipping his way past defenders to force De Gea into a great save from his deflected shot.

United's keeper then did equally well to claw out Nemanja Matic's low shot from the resulting corner.

Herrera then took matters into his own hands with two ill-judged tackles on Hazard, both punished with yellow cards by referee Michael Oliver.

Mourinho reacted to the dismissal by hauling off Mkhitaryan and sending on the combative Marouane Fellaini.

It was a tactic designed to frustrate Chelsea but the irrepressible Kante opened them up six minutes after the break, delivering a right-foot shot of unerring accuracy past De Gea.

Diego Costa should have made it 2-0 but United should have levelled when the galloping Rashford left David Luiz and Gary Cahill trailing but shot straight at Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea were relatively untroubled, though, as they set up a juicy-looking semi-final against London rivals Spurs -- the last team to beat them in any competition.

"We must be pleased because to arrive in the semi-finals and play at Wembley gives us great satisfaction," Conte said. "It's another tough game against a strong team." (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Barca star trio outgun Arsenal to reach quarters

BARCELONA, Spain -- Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were all on target as Barcelona piled more pressure on under-fire Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by easing into the Champions League quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate with a 3-1 win at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Neymar's early strike appeared to erase any forlorn hopes of an Arsenal comeback, but the visitors were handed a lifeline when Mohamed Elneny drilled into the top corner just after half-time.

Suarez put the tie beyond Wenger's men in emphatic fashion with a stunning volley 25 minutes from time before Messi's cheeky chipped finish rounded off the scoring late on.


"I don't know with what I hit the ball, but the most important thing is it went in," said Suarez.

"It was the moment in which they were attacking us. After they scored they grew in confidence, but we got back in front and back in control of the game."

A ninth consecutive victory stretches Barca's unbeaten run in all competitions to 38 games and seals their place in Friday's quarter-final draw for the ninth consecutive season.

By contrast, one win in eight games has decimated Arsenal's hopes of silverware this season as they exit the competition at the last 16 stage for the sixth consecutive season days after relinquishing their two-year hold on the FA Cup.

"I have to say we played against a team with the best strikers I've seen," said Wenger.

"The three are exceptional and from nothing they can create a chance.

"We have to admire art and they have two or three players that transform normal life into art."

After a bright start from Arsenal, Barca's front three soon came to life and David Ospina made a brilliant save from Messi after the Argentine had perfectly controlled Neymar's floated pass over the Arsenal defence.

Jeremy Mathieu headed over a gilt-edged chance from the resulting corner.

Neymar wasn't so forgiving moments later when he was played in by Suarez and coolly slotted past Ospina for his 26th goal of the season.

Yet, Arsenal should have been at least level by the break as Barca struggled to handle the visitors pace on the break without the suspended Gerard Pique.

Alexis Sanchez missed a glorious chance to net on his return to the Camp Nou when he glanced a header wide from Hector Bellerin's cross.

Danny Welbeck then sliced well wide when clean through on goal, whilst Alex Iwobi appealed in vein for a penalty after clipping his own ankles inside the box.

Arsenal's pressure was finally rewarded six minutes into the second-half when Elneny rifled his first goal for the club into the top corner from Sanchez's layoff.

Conceding a goal sparked Barca back into life as Ospina got down well to his left to parry Messi's low drive.

Welbeck had another chance to put Arsenal right back in the tie when he pounced on a poor header from Mathieu, but saw his shot blocked by Javier Mascherano's brilliant last-ditch tackle.

Barca's nerves were settled in spectacular fashion by Suarez as the Uruguayan contorted his body to acrobatically volley home Dani Alves's cross.

Arsenal continued to create chances as Welbeck drilled a shot against the bar from a narrow angle.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen then produced a brilliant double save to turn away Sanchez's free-kick and Olivier Giroud's follow-up effort.

However, Messi again demonstrated the difference in quality between the sides in front of goal when he dinked home two minutes from time to take he, Neymar and Suarez's combined tally for the season to 106.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: Arsenal dumped out of FA Cup, PSG clinch Ligue 1 title

Holders Arsenal dumped out of FA Cup by clinical Watford

Jamie McGeever, Reuters

Holders Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup with a 2-1 home defeat by Watford in the quarter-finals on Sunday ending their quest to win the trophy for the third straight season and increasing the pressure on manager Arsene Wenger.

Goals from Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura after the break put Watford in control while a late strike from Danny Welbeck was all the hosts could muster despite several chances, leaving them set to end the season without any silverware.

Arsenal were aiming to become the first side since Blackburn Rovers in the 1880s to win the Cup for three years in a row but instead they slumped to a third consecutive home defeat in all competitions for the first time since November 2002.

Having to overhaul a 2-0 deficit at European champions Barcelona in their Champions League last 16 return leg next week and standing eight points behind Premier League leaders Leicester City with only nine games left, the FA Cup was Arsenal's most realistic chance of a trophy this season.

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Martial keeps United's hopes alive after Payet masterpiece

Reuters

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial kept their FA Cup hopes alive when he struck eight minutes from time to salvage a 1-1 draw with West Ham United in Sunday's quarter-final tie at Old Trafford.

West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet looked to be sending the 11-times Cup winners tumbling out of the competition with a wondrous, curling free kick in the 68th minute.

But with time running out, United's young French starlet Martial hooked Ander Herrera's cross back into the net from the narrowest of angles.

United will now have a replay at what will be the last Cup tie to be staged at West Ham's Boleyn Ground in the Londoners' final season there before they move to the Olympic Stadium.

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PSG demolish Troyes 9-0 to clinch Ligue 1 title

Reuters

Four goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic spurred Paris St Germain to their fourth successive Ligue 1 title with a 9-0 rout of Troyes, becoming the first team to win the championship after 30 matches.

Ibrahimovic's sensational nine-minute hat-trick at the start of the second half followed goals from Edinson Cavani, Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot. Matthieu Saunier's own goal and further strikes by Cavani and Ibrahimovic completed the biggest away victory in Ligue 1 history.

PSG moved up to 77 points, 25 clear of second-place Monaco, winning the league with eight games still to play.

The championship is the sixth in the club's history and the fastest-ever Ligue 1 victory, breaking the record set by Gerard Houllier's Olympique Lyonnais in 2007, who won the title after 33 matches.

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Dortmund ease past Mainz as fan dies in stands

Reuters

Borussia Dortmund scored in each half to ease past Mainz 05 2-0 on Sunday and stay five points off leaders Bayern Munich with eight matches left in the season.

The Ruhr valley club were never troubled in the game, overshadowed by the death of a fan in the tribunes from an apparent heart attack, and should have scored more goals were it not for Mainz's Loris Karius.

The keeper single-handedly kept the scoreline low, denying Dortmund on more than six occasions with a string of outstanding saves as fans kept quiet, stunned by the sudden death among them.

Dortmund said a second fan had also suffered a heart attack but was resuscitated and in a stable condition in hospital.

"During the game there was a tragic incident where two people had to be resuscitated. One person did not make it," Dortmund said in a brief statement. "We are filled with grief and our thoughts are with the families."

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"Unbelievable" Kane boosts Spurs' title push with double

Reuters

Harry Kane was hailed as "unbelievable" after the England striker's 21st and 22nd goals of the season inspired Tottenham Hotspur to a routine win at hapless Aston Villa on Sunday that boosted their Premier League title ambitions.

Kane ended Villa's resistance in the space of three minutes either side of halftime, taking his tally to 18 goals in his last 20 league appearances, assisted on each occasion by a superb delivery from Dele Alli.

Kane's double left a delighted Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino to enthuse in an interview with BBC: "Harry Kane is an unbelievable guy who works hard for the team. I am very pleased for him."

The victory for Spurs consigned bottom-placed Villa to a 20th league defeat of the season while Pochettino's side moved just two points behind leaders Leicester City at the top of the table.

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Third-placed Real grab last-gasp winner at Las Palmas

Reuters
Real Madrid's Casemiro headed a late winner to earn a barely deserved 2-1 victory at Las Palmas in La Liga on Sunday as they moved back within four points of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Casemiro nodded home from a corner two minutes after the home side's Willian Jose struck in the 87th to equalise after a misplaced pass from Madrid substitute Mateo Kovacic.

Sergio Ramos's flicked header had given Real the lead in the 24th against a determined Las Palmas, who had won their previous three league games to move clear of the relegation zone.

Third-placed Real are 10 points clear of Villarreal, who lost 4-2 at Sevilla in a game between fourth and fifth, but are 12 points off leaders Barcelona who beat Getafe 6-0 on Saturday.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FA CUP: Chelsea season ended by Everton's two-goal Lukaku

LIVERPOOL, England - Romelu Lukaku scored two goals for Everton, one demonstrating rare strength and skill, to knock his old side Chelsea out of the FA Cup 2-0 in a dramatic quarter-final featuring two red cards on Saturday.

All the frantic action happened in the final 13 minutes with Chelsea striker Diego Costa and Everton midfielder Gareth Barry sent off but their dismissals only came after Lukaku's brilliance had put the tie beyond doubt.

The powerful Belgium striker, who never fitted in at Stamford Bridge and was sold to the Merseysiders for 28 million pounds ($40.28 million) two years ago, proved irresistible with his late five-minute double, especially with a first goal destined to go down in Goodison Park folklore.

As the game meandered towards a replay, Lukaku conjured a 77th-minute goal from nowhere, muscling past two defenders on the left, powering into the box and, after some nifty footwork to bamboozle Gary Cahill, firing in a left-foot effort.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez hailed it "one of the great goals we will see in the FA Cup".

Five minutes later, freed by Ross Barkley's neat pass, the 22-year-old Lukaku shot through keeper Thibaut Courtois' legs to provide the perfect response to any notion that he was not good enough for Chelsea.

"I don't think I have anything to prove to Chelsea. I went there as an 18-year-old and learned the trade of being a professional. I will always be grateful to them," Lukaku told the BBC after taking his goal tally for the season to 25 in all competitions.

"I think the first goal is the best thing. I didn't know where I was going but then I was in the box, I saw Gary Cahill not know where he was going so I shifted it on to my left foot."

What irony, though, that a Chelsea reject's goals should end a thoroughly wretched week and, effectively, put the lid on a terrible season for the Premier League champions following their Champions League exit to Paris St Germain on Wednesday.

Moments after Lukaku demonstrated his excellence, Chelsea target man Costa could only offer up another striking example of his pointless 'angry young man' impressions.

PETULANT RESPONSE
This time, after an earlier first-half booking for a collision with Barry, he squared up to the midfielder, shoving his face into the Everton player after being fouled.

For a moment it even looked as if he was burrowing into Barry's shoulder with his teeth but the former England international's calm reaction betrayed no sign he had been bitten.

Either way, referee Michael Oliver felt his petulant response meant he had to go for a second yellow card offence, surprisingly the first time he has been sent off for Chelsea.

Soon after, sparring partner Barry was also dismissed for a second booking for a foul on Cesc Fabregas.

The defeat meant caretaker manager Guus Hiddink, who won the FA Cup seven years ago in his previous stand-in spell at Stamford Bridge, had failed in his bid to repeat the achievement following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho in December.

In a game high on spikiness and huff and puff but not an abundance of great skill until Lukaku took over, the best chance fell to Costa who rounded keeper Joel Robles only to see his shot skip across the face of goal millimetres from the line.

A trip to Wembley for the semi-finals represented the perfect welcome gift for Everton's new principal shareholder Farhad Moshiri.

"I am the one bringing expectation and every single player at the club has the right mental character," said Martinez. "We wanted to get to Wembley and our chairman (long-standing owner Bill Kenwright) deserves that for what he has achieved."

($1 = 0.6952 pounds) (Reporting by Ian Chadband; Editing by Tony Jimenez)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Chelsea turn back to Hiddink after Mourinho exit

LONDON -- Guus Hiddink has returned to Chelsea as manager "until the end of the season" following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, the struggling Premier League champions announced on Saturday.

The experienced Dutch coach, 69, watched Chelsea's 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday, having resumed a role he previously performed in 2009, when he led the London club to glory in the FA Cup.

"I am excited to return to Stamford Bridge," Hiddink said in a statement on the Chelsea website before the game.


"Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in the world, but is not where it should be at the moment. However, I am sure we can all turn this season around.

"I am looking forward to working with the players and staff at this great club and especially renewing my wonderful relationship with the Chelsea fans."

Mourinho, 52, was sacked by Chelsea for the second time on Thursday after a run of nine defeats in 16 games saw them slide towards the relegation zone.

With first-team coach Steve Holland taking charge of the team against Sunderland, Hiddink sat in an executive box alongside owner Roman Abramovich and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Chelsea captain John Terry welcomed Hiddink's return, telling Sky Sports: "Guus Hiddink's training is very intense. He is a great man manager as well."

Abramovich previously turned to Hiddink in February 2009 after sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari.

In a statement, Chelsea said: "Mr Abramovich and the board believe that Guus has what it takes to get the best out of our talented squad."

Well travelled and vastly experienced, Hiddink began his coaching career with PSV Eindhoven and delivered the club's first ever European Cup success in 1988.

He has also managed Fenerbahce, Valencia, Real Madrid, Real Betis and Anzhi Makhachkala, as well as the national teams of the Netherlands, twice, South Korea, Australia, Russia and Turkey.

- 'Anguished' -
His most recent role, as Netherlands coach, came to an end in June after a poor start to qualifying for Euro 2016.

Hiddink's first game will be the Boxing Day fixture at home to Watford next Saturday, which is followed by a trip to Manchester United on December 28.

Writing in the match programme for the Sunderland game, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said the club had "anguished" over the decision to dismiss Mourinho "for some time".

"Please believe me when I say the decision was made for no reason other than to do what we believe is in the best interests of this club," he added.

"We are one of the biggest clubs in the world and we are all determined, as a collective unit, to get back to where we should be."

Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo said "palpable discord between manager and players" was a factor in Mourinho's dismissal, but Terry said player unrest was not the reason for his departure.

"We are aware there have been rumours of player power at the club, but I want to make it clear that is not the case," Terry wrote in the programme.

"We leave all decisions to Mr Abramovich and the board, and know that our job, as players, is to focus on getting results on the pitch."

Mourinho attended the Championship match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Middlesbrough on Saturday in his first public appearance since his sacking.

Sporting a newly shaven head and wearing a dark jacket, he was photographed in a seat at the Amex Stadium, where his former Real Madrid assistant Aitor Karanka was taking charge of Middlesbrough, who won 3-0.

The agency that represents Mourinho said in a statement that he would not be taking a sabbatical and would be attending matches in order to provide support to his "friends" in the game.

"He will not be taking a sabbatical, he isn't tired, he doesn't need it, he is very positive, and is already looking forward," said a statement from CAA, which also said Mourinho would remain in London.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com