Story ProgressBack to home
Chelsea, Man U reach semi-finals
Chelsea won 2-1 at Tottenham and Manchester United edged Middlesbrough 1-0 on Monday to reach the FA Cup semifinals.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: March 22, 2007 06:37 AM IST
Read Time:3 min
London:
Chelsea won 2-1 at Tottenham and Manchester United edged Middlesbrough 1-0 on Monday to reach the FA Cup semifinals and move a step closer to the dream final when it returns to Wembley. Second-half goals by Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips put Chelsea ahead in a quarterfinal replay at White Hart Lane before Robbie Keane replied for Spurs from the penalty spot. The victory keeps Chelsea, which has already won the League Cup, in contention for a sweep of titles in the FA Cup, European Champions League and English Premier League. "For me it's a special season already," manager Jose Mourinho said. "We were champions in the first season and the second. The problems we had (this season) only this team with this character could survive." Trouble hits game Trouble erupted near the end of both games, however. A Spurs fan ran onto the field toward the celebrating Chelsea players and tried to hit Frank Lampard while United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz was pulled away from the Middlesbrough coaches, who had accused Ronaldo of diving to get the penalty in their quarterfinal replay. Cristiano Ronaldo scored United's winner in the 76th minute at Old Trafford, converting a penalty after he had been fouled by Jonathan Woodgate. "For me it is a penalty," Ronaldo said. "Of course I felt contact, that is why I slipped. If he touches me I lose my movement and that is why I go down. He kicked me. "Maybe some people don't like me. Maybe I'm too good." In the semifinals, United, which has won a record 12 FA Cup titles, will face Watford, which is last in the Premier League, while Chelsea meets Blackburn. The semifinals will be played over the weekend April 14-15 with the final is scheduled for Wembley May 19. Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack had two early changes at White Hart Lane, one shot flashing just wide of the post and the other saved by goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech blocked a firm shot from Pascal Chimbonda in the 49th minute after the Blues failed to clear a corner. Spurs in control With Spurs appearing to take control, Chelsea scored in the 54th minute. There seemed no real danger when Shevchenko chased a ball from Shaun Wright-Phillips down the right. But he turned inside Steed Malbranque and then curled a rising, angled, left-footed shot that swung inside the far post. It was 2-0 seven minutes later when Chelsea put together a patient move from the back before Ashley Cole drove a long pass forward. Didier Drogba chested the ball towards Wright-Phillips, who drove a low, left-footed angled 20-meter shot past Robinson into the far corner. Spurs got back into the game when Ricardo Carvalho brought down Dimitar Berbatov in the 79th minute and Robbie Keane scored from the penalty spot. A small group of celebrating Spurs fans ran into the field but were quickly stopped and cleared, and there was more trouble at the end after their team lost. "A fan came on to make an aggression to Frank Lampard and I think he did it," Mourinho said. "He tried to hit Lamps and three, four, five people caught him before security people arrived." Woodgate rescued Middlesbrough in the first half against Manchester United at Old Trafford. His vital interception in his own area thwarted a chance after Ronaldo expertly controlled the ball and tried to find Alan Smith in front of goal. Ryan Giggs put Wayne Rooney clear in the 42nd but Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer raced off his line to grab the ball at his feet as the striker tried to go round him. Chance wasted Stuart Downing wasted a chance for Boro early in the second half when Mark Viduka beat United defender Nemanja Vidic and set up the winger, who fired over the bar from close range. Rooney had another chance when he got clear of the Boro defense, but Schwarzer denied him again before the goal came in the 76th minute. Woodgate pushed Ronaldo over as the Portuguese striker broke into the area and the winger fired the penalty powerfully past Schwarzer. Boro finished with 10 men when James Morrison was shown the red card in the final minute for bringing down Ronaldo.Topics mentioned in this article
Football Chelsea
Get the Latest IPL 2024 Updates, check out IPL 2024 schedules and IPL points table at NDTV Sports.Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more sports updates. You can also download the NDTV Cricket app for Android or iOS.