With Arsenal inching ever nearer to the Premier League title Wednesday, Manchester United set their sights on a second piece of silverware this season, as they efficiently progressed to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.
The greatest celebration of the evening, although, was reserved for Grimsby Town’s followers after the fourth-division membership produced a well-known cup upset to beat top-flight Southampton 2-1.
Tottenham was additionally on the receiving finish of a cup shock – dropping 1-0 to second-tier Sheffield United.
Arsenal’s focus is on the league and its 4-0 win over Everton at Emirates Stadium noticed the competitors leaders transfer 5 factors away from second-place Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s group actually seems to be over the jitters that threatened to derail its title problem by avenging the 1-0 loss to Everton that started a three-game winless run final month.
That win was a blow to United’s hopes of mounting a problem on the prime – however Erik ten Hag’s group stays in competition on 4 fronts after rallying to beat West Ham 3-1.
Quadruple nonetheless on
It felt like previous instances at Old Trafford as United mounted the kind of rousing comeback it was well-known for below former supervisor Alex Ferguson.
Fresh from successful the League Cup on Sunday, Ten Hag’s group appeared set to crash out of the FA Cup after Said Benrahma put West Ham in entrance with a curling shot within the 54th minute.
And as the sport edged towards the closing levels, United’s frustration grew when Casemiro had a would-be equalizer dominated out by VAR for offside.
But the house followers have been quickly cheering when Nayef Aguerd headed into his personal internet within the 77th.
Alejandro Garnacho swept United in entrance within the Ninetieth and substitute Fred added a 3rd within the fifth minute of stoppage time.
“The team showed personality, never gave up and turned around the game,” Ten Hag said. “It is essential, very large, a large efficiency from our group in the way in which of mentality.”
Cup shocks
Two penalties for Gavan Holohan noticed Grimsby stun relegation-threatened Southampton and attain the quarterfinals for the primary time since 1939.
Duje Caleta-Car pulled one again for the Saints, who don’t have anything left to play for this time period aside from top-flight survival.
Grimsby, the lowest-ranked group remaining within the competitors, is now one sport away from a Wembley semifinal.
“Playing at this degree you possibly can solely dream of nights like this,” Holohan mentioned.
It was a nightmare, although, for Tottenham whose anticipate a primary trophy since 2008 goes on.
Illiman Ndiaye struck within the 79th to safe a well-known win for Sheffield United in a sport that noticed Harry Kane begin on the bench.
“I can solely apologize to the followers for our efficiency and so they deserve rather more than this,” mentioned assistant supervisor Cristian Stellini, who continues to be in control of Tottenham whereas Antonio Conte recovers from gallbladder surgical procedure.
In the evening’s different FA Cup sport, second-division chief Burnley beat Fleetwood 1-0 with a Ninetieth-minute objective from Connor Roberts.
Arsenal flying excessive
Arsenal’s title cost is again on monitor after sweeping Everton apart.
First-half targets from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli quashed any fears of Sean Dyche producing a second upset within the house of a month in opposition to the league chief.
Martin Odegard added a 3rd within the second half and Martinelli struck his second to spherical off the 4-0 win that leaves Everton within the relegation zone, having performed one sport greater than its closest rivals on the backside.
Liverpool payback
Less than a month after being humbled in a 3-0 loss to Wolverhampton, Liverpool avenged that defeat to shut in on a top-four Champions League qualifying spot.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah scored within the 73rd and 77th, respectively, to seal a 2-0 win and transfer Jurgen Klopp’s group to inside six factors of fourth-place Tottenham with a sport in hand.
Kompany vs. Pep
Burnley supervisor Vincent Kompany will come up in opposition to his former membership after being drawn away to Manchester City within the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.
Kompany, a former City captain, gained 10 main trophies in a glittering profession at Etihad Stadium.
United will host Fulham, whereas Grimsby’s reward for victory in opposition to Southampton is a visit to Brighton.
There can be not less than one second-division group within the semifinals after Sheffield United was drawn at residence in opposition to Blackburn.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
