FA Cup review

Cup magic thrills fans on unforgettable weekend

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 10th March 2008

FA Cup review

Barnsley: FA Cup heroes

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Four games, three stunning results and two days of thrilling action added up to one of the most unforgettable weekends in FA Cup history.

For the first time in over 100 years, only one top-flight team has made it through to the semi-finals of the world-famous competition, with shocks galore and the reputations of several Premier League sides in tatters, leaving cup romantics exhausted.

But not everyone sees it that way, with one pundit believing that the FA Cup has been killed 'stone dead' by the success of the minnows.

Perhaps the respected hack could cast his mind back to last season's encounter between Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United, which was one of the most mind-numbingly dull and tedious matches many people have had the misfortune to endure.

This is not a time for carping, and Barnsley, Cardiff, Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion deserve all the plaudits they receive.

Portsmouth are the new favourites to lift the trophy, but Harry Redknapp knows that underdogs have shown their teeth on numerous occasions this season, including at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Manchester United were expected to progress and would have recorded a comfortable victory were it not for a combination of profligate finishing, desperate defending, superb goalkeeping and debateable refereeing.

Sylvain Distin's early penalty box challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo was shoulder-to-shoulder, although the French defender had little interest in playing the ball and was more concerned with taking his man out.

The Red Devils then conspired to miss a host of chances, with David James producing a stunning save from Patrice Evra and Distin somehow denying Michael Carrick with a goalline clearance which owed much more to luck than judgement.

United were then hit with a classic sucker-punch as Milan Baros was brought down by Tomasz Kuszczak, on at half-time for the injured Edwin van der Sar, with the reserve seeing red for bringing down the Czech striker.

There was the always-amusing sight of centre-back Rio Ferdinand taking the gloves, but he could not prevent Sulley Muntari finding the back of the net from 12 yards.

Barnsley then proceeded to trump Pompey's efforts by dumping holders Chelsea out at a rocking Oakwell.

The Tykes had already hit the headlines after seeing off Liverpool at Anfield in the last round, and on this occasion they simply wanted the victory more than their millionaire visitors.

Kayode Odejayi, who gave Ricardo Carvalho a torrid evening, legitimately climbed above goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini to nod home the only goal, with a sterling rearguard effort then keeping the Blue tide at bay.

Avram Grant somehow managed to look even more downbeat than normal as he trudged away in bemusement while Barnsley folk celebrated all around him, and the knives are again out for the Stamford Bridge boss.

On Sunday, Middlesbroughsimply froze as they passed up a glorious opportunity to move a step closer to only the second piece of major silverware in their 132-year history.

Having not faced a single Premier League opponent en route to the quarter-finals, Gareth Southgate's men were lacklustre and lost in front of a rare full house at The Riverside and Cardiff took full advantage.

Peter Whittingham curled home a superb early opener before providing the deft free-kick from which Roger Johnson added a second with the game only 21 minutes old, a position from which Boro rarely threatened to come back from.

The luck of the draw has also been kind to West Brom, with no Premier League opponents barring the path of Tony Mowbray's men to the semi-finals.

The Baggies accounted for League One battlers Bristol Rovers in the last eight, although the final 5-1 scoreline was harsh on Paul Trollope's troops.

Ishmael Miller claimed the match ball with a devastating hat-trick, although there was more than a hint of offside about his second goal, which gave West Brom a crucial 3-1 advantage and effectively ended Rovers' dreams.

Wembley now awaits, and while the semi-finalists may be unfashionable they have proved that glory remains much more than just a dream for those clubs outside the riches reserved for the Premier League's big four.

Comments (2)

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Mel Davies says...

Well done Cardiff City on a fantastic display of football yesterday. They looked more of a Premiership Club than Boro! Well done also to Barnsley and another welshman Simon Davey for turning over Chelsea. What a proud weekend to be Welsh! Come on the Bluebirds you can do it, you'll never get a better chance than this!

Posted 15:38 10th March 2008

John Rogers (Southampton fan) says...

This why the FA Cup is the most televised domestic cup in the world. Where else does all get the chance to grace the turf of dreams in a wembley final. I say good luck to all and for the neutral what a prospect of seeing a less glorified and rich club take all the silverware. This is what footbal is all about.

Posted 14:00 10th March 2008
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