Football

Old Trafford epic and superb Simms

Sportem
Sportem
7 Min Read

Our FA Cup awards honour the best – and worst – of the quarter-final action from the weekend.

Moment of the Week

Where to even start? What a weekend of FA Cup action.

Manchester United snatched a place in the semi-finals after a thrilling win over Liverpool, with Amad Diallo deciding a dramatic contest in the 120th minute of the game. Clashes between English football’s most decorated clubs have often been dull as dishwater, including a goalless stalemate in the Premier League earlier this season.

This, however, was anything but.

Played at a frenetic pace with end-to-end action and continued changes of momentum, it was an all-time classic cup contest that left us on the edge of our seats. The sheer drama of Diallo’s winner was the fitting conclusion to a tie few will forget.

Incredible.

Just a day earlier, we had another exceptional advert for the FA Cup, as Coventry City left it late to earn an upset win over top-flight Wolves.

The Sky Blues had been the better team in their Midlands matchup at Molineux, but looked set for heartbreak after conceding twice in the final seven minutes of normal time to trail 2-1. Ellis Simms then nodded in a stoppage-time equaliser and extra time appeared imminent, only for Coventry seal a sensational win just moments later.

Simms set up substitute Haji Wright, who bent a brilliant goal into the bottom corner TEN minutes in stoppage time. The Championship side celebrated wildly with a Wembley date against Manchester United on the horizon for Mark Robins and his team.

Player of the Week

Ellis Simms had the unenviable task of replacing Viktor Gyokeres at Coventry last summer, with the club’s leading scorer sold to Sporting Lisbon for a record fee.

The 23-year-old endured a tough start with just two goals in his first 24 league appearances, but has found his form in recent weeks to propel Coventry’s challenge for promotion and unlikely cup success.

Simms has scored 10 goals in his last eight appearances in all competitions, a run which includes a FA Cup fourth-round hat-trick against Maidstone and this weekend’s brace at Wolves.

After missing a glorious chance early on, Simms showed perseverance to bundle in the opening goal, before nodding in the 97th-minute equaliser. He then set up Haji Wright’s dramatic winner moments later, as Coventry progressed in a cup classic.

Simms is first player to score five goals in a single FA Cup campaign for Coventry since Keith Houchen in 1986/87, the year Coventry won the competition.

Goal of the Week

Chelsea confirmed their place in the semi-finals with a hard-fought win over Leicester, though the Blues required late goals from substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke to progress.

The latter’s goal was glorious, as he showed sublime footwork to slalom through two challenges before bending an unstoppable effort into the top corner.

Miss of the Week

Sorry Ellis Simms, but your match-winning performance against Wolves doesn’t allow you to escape from this dishonourable accolade.

Stat of the Week

Raheem Sterling’s decision to take a spot-kick from designated taker Cole Palmer backfired, as the Chelsea winger fluffed a tame effort at the goalkeeper.

Sterling has now missed 55% of the penalties he has taken in his career.

Donkey of the Week

Chelsea almost capitulated against Championship leaders Leicester this weekend, as the Foxes fought back from two goals down to briefly level at Stamford Bridge.

Axel Disasi gave Leicester a huge helping hand back into their cup tie, with this bizarre (yet almost impressive) own goal at Stamford Bridge.

He won’t want to watch this one back.

Read – Premier League weekend: Five things we learned 

See more – Premier League Team of the Week – Matchday 29

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