LONDON (AFP) - Alvaro Morata scored twice as holders Chelsea began their FA Cup defence with a 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in a match where a tearful Cesc Fabregas appeared to bid farewell to English football.
The third round is the stage where top-flight clubs enter the world’s oldest senior knockout football tournament and has traditionally been associated with upsets.
But there was only one "giant-killing" on Saturday (Jan 5) with third-tier Gillingham beating Premier League Cardiff 1-0.
Championship side Bristol City defeated top flight basement club Huddersfield by the same score thanks to Josh Brownhill’s 72nd-minute goal and Crystal Palace left it late to see off fourth-tier Grimsby 1-0.
Meanwhile, second division Derby, managed by former England midfielder Frank Lampard, came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Premier League strugglers Southampton.
Newcastle were also held to a draw, a Matt Ritchie penalty five minutes from time ensuring a 1-1 result against Championship club Blackburn.
But Arsenal, the record 13-times FA Cup winners, won 3-0 at Blackpool.
Both Morata and Fabregas have been linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window – the latter is reportedly set to join a Monaco side managed by former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry.
Captain for the day Fabregas saw his poor 30th-minute penalty saved by Luke Steele but two goals in the space of 10 minutes in the second half from the previously misfiring Morata, settled the tie.
‘Fantastic Cesc’
Chelsea coach Carlo Cudicini, taking press questions instead of manager Mauricio Sarri, was uncertain when asked if Fabregas had played his last game for the Blues.
“I personally don’t know,†he said.
“He (Fabregas) has been fantastic for the teams he played for before us and the contribution he has given to this club and to this team has been amazing. Cesc is a top, top player.â€Â
Cardiff conceded eight minutes from time when midfielder Elliott List scored for south-east club Gillingham.
“We wouldn’t have scored in a million years,†admitted Neil Warnock, the Cardiff manager.
Delighted Gills boss Steve Lowell, born in Swansea – Cardiff’s arch Welsh rivals – added: “I haven’t played against many Premiership teams before so it’s got to be the best, hasn’t it? It’s a great result.â€
Southampton were cruising following Nathan Redmond goals early in each half but Derby hit back with two in quick succession after the hour mark through Jack Marriott and Tom Lawrence.
Everton eventually saw off fourth-tier Lincoln 2-1 at Goodison Park as Ademola Lookman and Bernard put the Toffees 2-0 up by the 14th minute but the hosts pulled a goal back in the 28th minute with Michael Bostwick’s effort.
Â
Â
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a fifth successive win since becoming interim manager of Manchester United following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho with a 2-0 win over Reading.
United, last season’s losing finalists, scored twice before half-time, through Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku.
“You can’t ask for more than going through but the way we played wasn’t the best,†Solskjaer told the BBC.
Marko Arnautovic helped West Ham beat Championship club Birmingham 2-0 scoring in the second minute but was substituted after 19 minutes by manager Manuel Pellegrini.
“He felt a pain in his back at the beginning,†said Pellegrini. “He wanted to continue after that, but it was not good to take a risk.â€Â
Andy Carroll, the man who replaced Arnautovic, made it 2-0 in the 90th minute with his first goal since April.
Elsewhere, an all-Premier League clash saw Brighton win 3-1 away to south coast rivals Bournemouth.
Premier League strugglers Burnley needed a late penalty from Chris Wood to see off third-tier Barnsley 1-0.
Bizarre build up
Arsenal had a bizarre build-up to their tie when a Blackpool fan climbed onto the roof of the coach taking the squad to Bloomfield Road.
Eventually, after being spoken to by police officers, the man came down off the roof after some 40 minutes before he was arrested.
Joel Willock, one of four teenagers in Arsenal’s side, scored twice before half-time, with Alex Iwobi added a third goal late on.
“We imposed our quality on the game and it was good to see the young players do well today as well,†said Arsenal manager Unai Emery after his FA Cup debut.
League One leaders Portsmouth, the 2008 FA Cup winners, needed an Andre Green stoppage-time goal in a 1-0 victory away to Championship high-flyers Norwich, down to 10 men after Grant Haley’s early red card.
Liverpool, the Premier League leaders, play Wolves at Anfield on Monday.
Tottenham Hotspur became the first club into the fourth round this season with a 7-0 rout of fourth-tier Tranmere on Friday.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v AFC Bournemouth - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - January 13, 2019 Everton's Kurt Zouma scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cair
Everton ride luck for 2-0 victory at home to Bournemouth
Football: Valencia to face Barca in Copa final after seeing off Betis Valencia's forward Rodrigo Moreno (second right) celebrates with team mates after scoring. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Soccer: Valencia to face Barca in Copa final after seeing off
Over the last 23 years, Chelsea have consistently signed big-name players on their way to four Premier League titles. Sportsmail looks at the 10 best and 10 worst of a big-spending era in blue.
* Man City beat Liverpool 2-1, cut lead to four points Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four season on Juergen Klopp's side and cutting their lead at the top to four
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
Juventus achieved their objective, despite everything going wrong - Allegri Juventus finished top of their Champions League group despite slipping to a shock defeat to Young Boys.
Juventus achieved objective, despite everything going wrong
betandwins.com/2018/12/12/juventus-achieved-objective-despite-everything-going-wrong-allegri/
"We achieved our objective by winning the group, even on a night where everything seemed to go wrong," Allegri told Rai Sport. "We missed so many opportunities and gifted a penalty, so at the end of the day it was only right that we lost. "[Dybala's disallowed goal] was offside.
Champions League: Juventus achieved their objective, despite
Women's World Cup Women's Reds must forget 2018 final woes. are preparing for their first ever Champions League final and first final in any competition since the 2015 EFL Cup Final.
Champions League final: Liverpool defeats Tottenham, 2-0, for
Valencia secured Champions League football for the second year in a row by winning 2-0 at Real Valladolid on Saturday, clinching fourth place in La Liga at the expense of Getafe who drew 2-2 at
Valencia clinch Champions League spot, Getafe in Europa
Spurs prevail again in rematch with Lakers. Rudy Gay of the San Antonio Spurs dunks over Lonzo Ball, right, Josh Hart and Johnathan Williams of the Los Angeles Lakers as Gay's teammate
2019 San Antonio Spurs Depth Chart (Live Updates)
Complacency and despondency. there is no room for complacency or despair in our faith The complacent Christian has no great love for God and no real
No room for complacency - KPMG Global
Pochettino's side looked like they would hold on for a point as the match entered stoppage-time, but Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake ended third-placed Tottenham's stubborn resistence to delay their attempt to guarantee a place in the top four.
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs | Football News and
The Toffees headed into Sunday's match-up without a win in any of their previous four Premier League matches at their historic home, but they got back to winning ways thanks to goals from on-loan Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma and young attacker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Zouma rose highest to head home the opening goal
Reds & Toffees win, Blues lose | FOX Sports
Pack sizes vary, most packs have 6 or 7 members, although some may include as many as 15 wolves. The size depends on many variables including the current numbers of the wolf population, the abundance of food, and social factors within the wolf pack. Within each pack is an elaborate hierarchy.
adaptations - Gray Wolf
graywolves.weebly.com/adaptations.html
The Gray Wolf has many adaptations that help it survive. It has teeth and claws for hunting. The fur of the gray wolf is a great insulator and it can keep out moisture. The hearing and their sense of smell are a lot better than humans have. The fleshy paws they have are better for traction in the winter.
Wolves and moose on Isle Royale - Wikipedia
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer equals long-standing record as Manchester United beat Newcastle. Solskjaer has enjoyed a perfect start to his career as manager, steering United back into top four
Premier League: Newcastle United 0 Manchester United 2 | Goal.com
Real Madrid edge past Real Betis to climb into the La Liga top four with a first win in three matches. Real Madrid earn late win at Real Betis They are behind third-placed Sevilla on goal
Sevilla keep pressure on Atletico with vital win over Celta
Ryan Giggs has hit back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic over his criticism of the Class of 92 by insisting players with 'over 2,000 games between us' are entitled to have an opinion about Manchester United.
Giggs hits back after Zlatan criticism of Man Utd 'Class of
0 comments:
Post a Comment