FA Cup Quarter Final Results

12:00: Its FA Cup quarter final day, and we have 4 mouth-watering ties to bring you.

12:04: We start off in London where Fulham look to avenge an early season loss at home to Swansea at 12:45, before Stoke host Chelsea and Southampton host Tottenham at 15:00. Finally we finish on Merseyside, where Everton take on Aston Villa.

12:10: First though, we’re at Craven Cottage with 2 teams whose seasons have gone in opposite directions. Swansea started hot with 2 wins in their first 3, but have failed to win a league game since the 3-2 reverse at Fulham, while Fulham started slow but have picked up momentum.

12:15: Team news coming up shortly.

12:19: TEAMS
FULHAM TEAM TO PLAY SWANSEA: Schwarzer, Baird, Kaboul, Boyata, Moses, Montolivo, Sidwell, Kacaniklic, Michu, Pogrebnyak, Defoe
SWANSEA: Howard, Corluka, Dann, Williams, Taylor, Dyer, Ki, Rodwell, Hoilett, Hernandez, Adebayor

12:26: So 2 fairly full strength teams sent out in this one, both teams looking for a place in Wembley’s semi-finals.

12:31: Craven Cottage near full to capacity, good atmosphere going.

12:40: Teams in the tunnel, we’ll be underway shortly

KICKOFF
12:46: Almost immediately Swansea take the game to Fulham, Dyer using Corluka’s run as a decoy before crossing for Adebayor to slam a header over the bar.

12:49: Swansea continue to press the ball in midfield, and Hernandez wins it from Montolivo and opts to shoot rather than play in Adebayor and the ball flies wide.

12:52: First chance for Fulham to really maintain possession in this game, and Michu almost works an opening but is dispossessed by Rodwell before he can shoot.

GOAL: Fulham 1-0 Swansea (Michu ’10)
It’s come largely against the run of play but Fulham lead. Moses’ cross for Pogrebnyak is headed clear by Dann, but only as far as Michu whose first time shot is deflected in off Williams.

12:59: That setback hasn’t deterred Swansea, who work another opening, Hoilett using the overlapping Taylor, whose low cross is just poked behind by Kaboul ahead of Hernandez

PENALTY TO SWANSEA
GOAL: Fulham 1-1 Swansea (Adebayor ’23)
This time Hoilett uses the decoy of Taylor to skip inside, and is brought down by Baird. Clear penalty, and Adebayor steps up to send Schwarzer the wrong way.

13:13: Cracking match in prospect now, Fulham think they have the ball in net, but Defoe is fractionally offside. Close

13:20: Into the closing stages on the half, Fulham have settled, but Swansea are still shading it.

GOAL: Fulham 1-2 Swansea (Hernandez ’41)
Swansea take the lead in London, Ki clipped ball finds Adebayor who plays in Hernandez first time. He composes himself before firing past Schwarzer.

13:31: Into added time and both teams look like they’ve settled.

HALFTIME: Fulham 1-2 Swansea


13:34: So halftime and Swansea lead a game they’ve just shaded. Back in 15 for the 2nd half.

13:50: Teams are back out and we’ll be underway shortly

KICKOFF:
13:52: No changes at halftime to report.

13:56: Fulham have come out with more energy in the first half and Moses cuts inside and forces Howard to parry clear.

GOAL: Fulham 2-2 Swansea (Boyata ’55)
From the resulting corner however, Boyata rises to head his team level. Game on.

14:02: That goal seems to have woken Swansea up, and they begin to push again, Dyer overhits his cross for Adebayor this time though.

14:07: Even game in the midfield at the moment, neither team working an advantage.

14:11: Fulham chance to take the lead, Michu feeding Defoe who put his shot straight at Howard.

14:15: Swansea go straight up the other end and almost find a goal however, Dyer feeding Corluka how pulls it back for Ki who puts his shot over the bar.

GOAL: Fulham 2-3 Swansea (Dyer ’72)
Swansea retake the lead and Nathan Dyer uses Corlukas overlap to skip past Boyata and squeeze a shot just past Schwarzer and inside the near post.

14:21: Can Fulham find another way back into this game, Sidwell the first to try his luck from distance, but can’t find the target

14:27: Adebayor really should’ve finished this game. Swansea counter attack and Rodwell sets Adebayor clear but after rounding the goalkeeper he puts it wide.

14:31: Fulham are pushing but struggling to break down Swansea, the welsh side are resolute in defense at the moment.

14:34: Is that Fulhams chance gone. As they pile forward, Sidwell’s shot is charged down and it falls to Defoe. He fails to get any contact though and the chance is gone. Into injury time.

14:36: Dyer has it in the corner and it looks as if Fulham’s cup adventure is over.

FULL TIME: Fulham 2-3 Swansea
14:40: So Swansea book their place in Wembley’s semi-finals after a cracking game.

TEAM NEWS:
STOKE TEAM TO PLAY CHELSEA: Begovic, Hutton, Huth, Shawcross, Figueroa, Kightly, Palacios, Diaby, Young, Crouch, Mirallas
CHELSEA: Courtios, Bosingwa, Shaw, Luiz, Lopez, Essien, Romeu, Gourcuff, Marin, Kalou, Torres
SOUTHAMPTON TEAM TO PLAY TOTTENHAM: Davis, Richardson, Fonte, Chico, Fox, Diarra, Chaplow, Davis, Malouda, Rodriguez, Frei
TOTTENHAM: Freidel, Anyukov, Mussachio, Bartra, Rose, Tiote, Barkley, Sterling, Suarez, Jese, Guidetti

14:50: Chelsea’s manager in the buildup: Southampton are a good team, it’s never an easy visit to Goodison.

14:55: Teams are out and we’re about to get underway again.

KICKOFF
15:03: Nothing of note in the early stages, cagey games.

15:06: Frei hits the post! Malouda crosses to the back stick and Frei crashes a header against the woodwork.

15:10: Gourcuff tees one off from range at the Brittannia, but it’s well wide
.
GOAL: Stoke 1-0 Chelsea (Crouch ’14)
Crouch gets his fourth goal of the cup, and Chelsea will be kicking themselves. Bosingwa’s slack back pass is intercepted by Mirallas whose shot is parried then turned in by Crouch.

15:17: No immediate response from Chelsea, at St Mary’s Guidetti has just gone close for Tottenham.

15:21: Chance for Chelsea as Marin’s deep cross is met first time by Kalou, unfortunately its smashed into row Z.

15:26: Southampton’s turn to go close at St Mary’s, Maxi comes inside Rose and fires just past the post.

GOAL: Southampton 1-0 Tottenham (Frei ’30)
Frei gives Southampton the lead, Malouda slips a ball inside the FB, and Frei cuts back before smashing the ball off the underside of the bear. Unstoppable.

15:34: So 2 big upsets in prospect, Chelsea have finally settled, Torres dispossessed by huth’s last ditch tackle.

15:40: An inexperienced Spurs side hasn’t really mustered a response yet. Southampton’s 3 man central midfield holding up well.

15:44: Approaching half time and not much happening atm. Both sides seem to have settled.

HALF TIME: Stoke 1-0 Chelsea
HALF TIME: Southampton 1-0 Tottenham

15:47: 2 upsets in prospect, 2 underdogs winning at the half, back in 15.

16:01: Ready to get underway in the 2nd half.

KICKOFF
GOAL: Stoke 2-0 Chelsea (Kightly ’46)Chelsea go to sleep just after the interval, Kightly drifting inside and slamming a shot at Courtois who inexplicably parries it into his own net. Disaster for the young keeper.

16:06: Big hole for Chelsea to climb out of now, 40 minutes or so to come back from 2 down.

16:10: First chance for Spurs at St Mary’s in the second half, Rose getting forward and his cross just evades Guidetti.

16:14: Stoke want a penalty, Mirallas is brought down by Luiz as he attempts to burst into the area but the ref thinks he won the ball.

16:18: Finally a response from Chelsea, Torres’s snap shot from 12 yard is pushed over by Begovic.

16:23: Southampton are getting a bit penned in, heavy reinforcements for Spurs coming.

GOAL: Southampton 2-0 Tottenham (Maxi ’68)
Before those reinforcements arrive, Southampton strike on the counter though. An incisive break is finished by Maxi cutting across Anyukov before firing across Friedel.

RED CARD: Gourcuff
Dives in 2 footed in Palacios, ref has no choice but to dismiss him.

16:30 Things going from bad to worse for Chelsea as their 10 men face needing 2 goals in the last 15 mins.

16:34: Spurs almost get 1 back, sub Hazard running at the CBs before firing low past the post.

16:38: Stoke almost close out the game, Crouch heading over under pressure from Shaw.

GOAL Southampton 2-1 Tottenham (Hazard ’86)[/b
]They have one, and its Eden Hazard who wins a free kick 25 yards out and steps up to curl it past Davis. They have 1.

16:46: Approaching added time at the Brittannia and Stoke are comfortable. Chelsea have been poor.

16:49: Guidetti spurns a guilt edge chance, Bale cutting inside, dinking a ball over for him and he fails to make contact. Is that Spurs last chance?

[b]FULL TIME: Stoke 2-0 Chelsea

16:51: Friedel is up for a corner, but Southampton clear.
FULL TIME: Southampton 2-1 Tottenham

16:55: Tottenham and Chelsea crash out at the quarter final stage, and the FA Cup is wide open. Big incentive for Villa and Everton in the late game.
TEAM NEWS:
EVERTON TEAM TO PLAY ASTON VILLA: Hahnemann, Cameron, Dawson, Hutchinson, Reo Coker, Sanchez, Cahill, Ziegler, Donovan, Naismith, Rodallega
ASTON VILLA: Given, Lopes, Clark, Mathijsen, Warnock, Delph, Makoun, Ireland, Agbonlahor, Saha, Delfounso.

17:12: Teams are out at Goodison, crowd in full voice.

KICKOFF
17:17: Early chance for Everton, Rodallega going around Lopes before firing at Given

17:22: Villa respond, Agbonlahor outpacing Hutchinson before cutting back for Saha who puts it over.

17:25: Another chance for Saha, this time from 12 yards he forces Hahnemann into a near post save.

GOAL Everton 0-1 Aston Villa (Saha ’14)
At the third time of asking Saha finishes a chance, this time he places his shot from 12 yards into the top corner, superb finish and Villa lead.

17:33: Everton look to respond, Donovan feeds Cahill inside and the Australian’s shot is charged down.

17:39: The game has calmed down a touch, Villa keeping some nice possession in the middle at the moment.

17:43: Everton work an opening, Naismith feints to pass to Cahill before smashing a shot at Given.

17:48: Villa come back at Everton, Delfounso trying his luck from distance and almost catches Hahnemann out, but his shot clears the crossbar.

17:54: Coming up to halftime and the game has calmed after a frantic opening

PENALTY TO ASTON VILLA
GOAL Everton 0-2 Aston Villa (Saha ‘45+1)
Everton are outraged, Delfounso seems to go down easy under a challenge from Cameron, but the ref points to the spot. Saha steps up to send Villa 2-0 up at halftime.

HALFTIME
18:02: Plenty of talking points after that, but the upshot is Villa head in for halftime 2-0 up.

18:16: Back out at Goodison, underway shortly

KICKOFF
18:19: Everton immediately respond, Rodallega charging into the area and his cross is unlucky not to fly in as it hits the bar and bounces clear.

GOAL Everton 1-2 Aston Villa (Naismith ’49)
Everton has come out with plenty of bite, and Naismith pulls them back into this match, his snap shot from 12 yards deflects off Cameron and past Given

18:24: Wake up call for Villa, and they try to forge a way through the middle before being stopped by a crunching Cahill challenge.

18:30: The Everton faithful are pushing their team forward and Donovan wants a penalty when a cross hits Clark on the arm. Nothing given though.

GOAL: Everton 1-3 Aston Villa (Agbonlahor ‘62)
Agbonlahor outpaces Dawson and finishes low across Hahnemann, game over?

18:38: Sucker punch to Everton who were growing into this game, can they respond?

18:44: It’s not looking great at the moment, Villa holding firm at the back, Everton limited to long range shots.

18:48: Everton pressing but still no way past Villa’s defense. Shechter the latest to try his luck.

18:52: 10 minutes to go and Everton need 2 to force extra time.

18:55: Cahill stings the hands of Given from 20 yards, time running out.

GOAL: Everton 2-3 Aston Villa (Mathijsen OG ’88)
Now, do Everton has a route back, Cahill takes a corner, and Mathijsen, unsighted, deflects it into his own net. Lucky but Everton will take it

19:01: All hands to the pump now for Everton, a few minutes to grab an equaliser. Villa completely in their shell.

GOAL Everton 3-3 Aston Villa (Sinclair ‘90+2)
Goodison is rocking, Villa are stunned. A Rodallega cross is cleared only to sub Sinclair on the edge of the area, who curls it past Given.

FULLTIME

19:05: Extra time to come then after Everton’s dramatic fightback.

KICKOFF:


19:08: The first Villa attack for the last 20 minutes or so nearly comes to fruition, Dawson just getting a toe to divert Ireland’s through ball.
19:12: Both teams look spent, each trying to maintain possession but its scrappy.

19:17: Cahill lines one up from distance but its wide. Game petering out.

HALFTIME

KICKOFF

19:23: Chance for Jelavic, Sinclair uses his pace to go round Olsson and crosses for Jelavic who puts his header over under pressure.

19:29: Villa maintaining possession in midfield, but no bite at the moment.

19:33: Last chance for Villa? Ba powers past Dawson and Cameron, before powering a shot that Hahnemann does well to parry.

FULL TIME

19:36: Penalties it is then. Everton to take first

PENALTY SCORED 1-0 (Shecter)
PENALTY SCORED 1-1 (Olsson)
PENALTY SCORED 2-1 (Sinclair)
PENALTY SCORED 2-2 (Agbonlahor)
PENALTY MISSED 2-2 (Reo Coker)
PENALTY MISSED 2-2 (Given)
PENALTY MISSED 2-2 (Donovan)
PENALTY MISSED 2-2 (Clark)
PENALTY MISSED 2-2 (Jelavic)
PENALTY SCORED 2-3 (Ba)

19:50: So Villa triumph on penalties and join Swansea, Stoke and Southampton in the Semi Finals. Thank you and goodnight.


Swansea vs Fulham
4-2-2
Stoke vs Chelsea
5-2-1
Southampton vs Tottenham
4-2-2
Everton vs Aston Villa
4-2-3

Well played enigma, although I got 4 win votes to 3 how are the penalties decided?

Random number generator for each penalty 1-3 is a miss

can you pm me the reasons of why I lost please. if there are any.

Fair enough, was just wondering.

As it went to extra time can Jelavic/Sinclair play in the league, the rule was they cannot play more than 30 mins but obviously I wasn't expecting extra time!

Likewise with Russ, can I have any feedback pmd to me?

Wasn't expecting a win (although i'm guessing Chelsea playing the wrong team in their tactics helped a little...)

Any 1 from the 4 sides could win the cup.

Am I correct in saying the cup winners get into Europe? That could be my only route...

There really wasnt too much feedback, mostly just scores

And yeah they're free for the game, I won't count extra time

1 europe spot for a cup win yes.

May I ask and I don't mind why, but those that voted for Southampton to win was it due to tactics or some of my players not being names recognised. Just helps me for future, cheers.

Again... Great Job GSC!

Enjoyed reading that layout. Really surprised to have dragged both teams into the semi's.

Cheers Gregers, although it could have easily gone your way!

Oh and yes very big congrats to you Enigma on the win, thoroughly deserved, excellent tactic writing.

When is the next Manager of the month? If so I vote Enigma

MOTM is after this game weekend.