The FA Cup semi finals await as this weekend’s Quarter final ties were wrapped up with last year’s finalists Chelsea progressing to face South London rivals Crystal palace, whilst the Premier League’s top two Manchester City and Liverpool will lock horns in the other semi final.
Chelsea beat an out-of-form Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday evening, despite having no away fans in attendance due to the club’s ongoing issues with it’s owner Roman Abramovich. Boro had beaten both Manchester United and Spurs on their way to the Quarters. The Blues however, who currently sit 3rd in the Premier League, had too much for the Championship’s 7th placed side, slotting home two first half goals from Romelu Lukaku and Hakim Ziyech to secure their place in the semi’s. This is now the fourth season out of their last six that Chelsea have reached this stage of the competition, having last won it back in 2018.
Crystal Palace annihilated Everton at Selhurst Park to progress as goals from Marc Guehi, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Wilfried Zaha and Will Hughes helped Palace reach their first semi-final since 2016 and dismayed five-time winners Everton and Frank Lampard to yet more misery as their focus now turns to Premier League survival. The Eagles sit in 12th position in the League with manager Patrick Evra enjoying an impressive first season in South London.
Six-time winners Manchester City made it through comfortably in the end running out 4-1 winners at St Mary’s on Sunday afternoon as wonder strikes from Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez helped ease City to victory following a shaky start after Aymeric Laporte’s own goal on the stroke of half-time which them go in level at half-time.
The final quarter final tie saw Liverpool overcome Nottingham Forest by a close margin as Diogo Jota’s late goal was judged to be just onside and Jurgen Klopp’s men continued their push for the quadruple this season, with the Reds still remaining in contention in both the League and Champions League, following their Carabao Cup victory back in February.
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â Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 21, 2022
Can Man City stop the Reds from completing a domestic treble and gain their first title in the cup since 2019 and will Chelsea avenge last year’s final defeat by overseeing their London rivals in the semi’s?
The ties are set to take place on the weekend of the 16th-17th April.
