holicman
02-18-2007, 04:09 AM
Brynjar Gunnarsson nodded home a second-half equaliser to earn in-form Reading an FA Cup fifth round replay with Manchester United.
The hosts appeared to be heading into the last eight after Michael Carrick had driven them in front with virtually the last kick of the opening period.
But, after Cristiano Ronaldo had wasted a glorious chance to double United’s lead, Gunnarsson headed John Oster’s corner in off the underside of the bar to condemn Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to a trip to the Madejski Stadium.
Chelsea survived an early scare before turning on the style to crush Norwich City 4-0 at Stamford Bridge and book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.The Barclays Premiership champions were indebted to a wicked deflection to go ahead when Shaun Wright-Phillips’ long-range shot flew home off a Canaries defender.
Didier Drogba scored his 26th - and arguably easiest - goal of the season to make it 2-0 after a corner had deflected through to him.
Injury-time strikes from substitutes Michael Essien and Andriy Shevchenko added gloss to the scoreline, with Norwich earlier hitting the post through Dickson Etuhu and the bar via Lee Croft.
Watford continued their recent resurgence as they saw off 10-man Ipswich Town 1-0 with a late winner at Vicarage Road.
With a replay beckoning, Damien Francis met Tommy Smith’s low cross to send the Barclays Premiership’s bottom side through.
The visitors’ chances of an upset were dealt a blow when George O’Callaghan was sent off on the stroke of half-time.
Making his full debut, the midfielder was given his marching orders after referee Steve Bennett deemed that he had aimed a kick at Hornets defender Danny Shittu.
Ipswich could have earlier been in front when former Fulham midfielder Sylvain Legwinski hit the bar from 25 yards.
The 10 men continued to attack and thought they had taken the lead when Dan Harding’s shot hit the underside of the bar and Danny Haynes headed home the rebound only to be denied by the offside flag.
Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel produced a stunning late double save to earn Mark Hughes' side a replay against Arsenal following their 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
The veteran American dived full length to tip away Thierry Henry's clever flicked shot before producing an equally-impressive stop to turn Justin Hoyte's follow-up shot over the bar.
The Gunners felt they should have had a penalty 13 minutes from time when Jeremie Aliadiere went down under a challenge from Stephen Warnock, but referee Martin Atkinson waved away their appeals.
WENGER SEES BRIGHT FUTURE
Arsenal dominated the game but, after an early miss by Henry, they rarely generated even a half-chance against the visitors, who came close to breaking the deadlock through Matt Derbyshire's looping second-half effort which Manuel Almunia pushed over the bar.
Kevin Phillips served a timely reminder of his quality in front of goal as West Bromwich Albion twice came from behind to take Middlesbrough to an FA Cup fifth-round replay.
The former Sunderland striker returned to the north-east to snatch a 2-2 draw for the Coca-Cola Championship high-fliers via a deflection off Andrew Taylor.
It was a terrific fightback for the visitors, who conceded a sucker-punch penalty on the stroke of half-time, only moments after making it 1-1.
The result was soured by Curtis Davies’ late sending off for an untidy challenge on Mark Viduka.
Boro dominated the early exchanges, with Emanuel Pogatetz having a header cleared off the line before Julio Arca headed in Stewart Downing’s brilliant right-wing cross.
The Baggies looked set to go in level when Diomansy Kamara slotted the ball under Mark Schwarzer from a tight angle but Davies then fouled Ayegbeni Yakubu, who then made amends for his two spot-kick misses in the fourth-round replay against Bristol City.
Plymouth reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 23 years thanks to a 2-0 win over Championship leaders Derby.
Kevin Gallen scored a controversial penalty and on-loan Chelsea starlet Scot Sinclair headed in a late second to send Ian Holloway’s side through.
The hosts appeared to be heading into the last eight after Michael Carrick had driven them in front with virtually the last kick of the opening period.
But, after Cristiano Ronaldo had wasted a glorious chance to double United’s lead, Gunnarsson headed John Oster’s corner in off the underside of the bar to condemn Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to a trip to the Madejski Stadium.
Chelsea survived an early scare before turning on the style to crush Norwich City 4-0 at Stamford Bridge and book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.The Barclays Premiership champions were indebted to a wicked deflection to go ahead when Shaun Wright-Phillips’ long-range shot flew home off a Canaries defender.
Didier Drogba scored his 26th - and arguably easiest - goal of the season to make it 2-0 after a corner had deflected through to him.
Injury-time strikes from substitutes Michael Essien and Andriy Shevchenko added gloss to the scoreline, with Norwich earlier hitting the post through Dickson Etuhu and the bar via Lee Croft.
Watford continued their recent resurgence as they saw off 10-man Ipswich Town 1-0 with a late winner at Vicarage Road.
With a replay beckoning, Damien Francis met Tommy Smith’s low cross to send the Barclays Premiership’s bottom side through.
The visitors’ chances of an upset were dealt a blow when George O’Callaghan was sent off on the stroke of half-time.
Making his full debut, the midfielder was given his marching orders after referee Steve Bennett deemed that he had aimed a kick at Hornets defender Danny Shittu.
Ipswich could have earlier been in front when former Fulham midfielder Sylvain Legwinski hit the bar from 25 yards.
The 10 men continued to attack and thought they had taken the lead when Dan Harding’s shot hit the underside of the bar and Danny Haynes headed home the rebound only to be denied by the offside flag.
Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Brad Friedel produced a stunning late double save to earn Mark Hughes' side a replay against Arsenal following their 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
The veteran American dived full length to tip away Thierry Henry's clever flicked shot before producing an equally-impressive stop to turn Justin Hoyte's follow-up shot over the bar.
The Gunners felt they should have had a penalty 13 minutes from time when Jeremie Aliadiere went down under a challenge from Stephen Warnock, but referee Martin Atkinson waved away their appeals.
WENGER SEES BRIGHT FUTURE
Arsenal dominated the game but, after an early miss by Henry, they rarely generated even a half-chance against the visitors, who came close to breaking the deadlock through Matt Derbyshire's looping second-half effort which Manuel Almunia pushed over the bar.
Kevin Phillips served a timely reminder of his quality in front of goal as West Bromwich Albion twice came from behind to take Middlesbrough to an FA Cup fifth-round replay.
The former Sunderland striker returned to the north-east to snatch a 2-2 draw for the Coca-Cola Championship high-fliers via a deflection off Andrew Taylor.
It was a terrific fightback for the visitors, who conceded a sucker-punch penalty on the stroke of half-time, only moments after making it 1-1.
The result was soured by Curtis Davies’ late sending off for an untidy challenge on Mark Viduka.
Boro dominated the early exchanges, with Emanuel Pogatetz having a header cleared off the line before Julio Arca headed in Stewart Downing’s brilliant right-wing cross.
The Baggies looked set to go in level when Diomansy Kamara slotted the ball under Mark Schwarzer from a tight angle but Davies then fouled Ayegbeni Yakubu, who then made amends for his two spot-kick misses in the fourth-round replay against Bristol City.
Plymouth reached the quarter-finals for the first time in 23 years thanks to a 2-0 win over Championship leaders Derby.
Kevin Gallen scored a controversial penalty and on-loan Chelsea starlet Scot Sinclair headed in a late second to send Ian Holloway’s side through.