FA Cup: Man City reaches FA Cup semis, Man Utd knocked out by Wolves
Manchester City's quest for a quadruple is still on, thanks to a bit of luck and some help from the referee, but Manchester United has only one remaining chance for silverware after being dumped out of the FA Cup by Wolverhampton Wanderers.
On a contrasting Saturday for the two rivals, City came from two goals down to defeat second-tier Swansea 3-2 in the quarterfinals while United went down 2-1 at Wolves.
Watford also reached the semis after substitute Andre Gray scored two minutes after coming off the bench to secure a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Wolves held on to win a game it dominated, but Swansea couldn't protect its 2-0 lead against a City side that benefited from two refereeing mistakes.
David Silva, Josep Guardiola, and Bernardo Silva (L-R) celebrate Manchester City's win over Swansea City at Liberty Stadium on March 16, 2019. /VCG Photo
City was incorrectly awarded a penalty that led to the equalizer before Sergio Aguero scored the winner from an offside position to end Swansea's hopes of pulling off a massive upset.
Adding to City's good fortune was the FAct the equalizer had only gone in after the ball bounced off goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
It all kept coach Pep Guardiola on track for a possible four titles. City has already won the League Cup, leads the way in the Premier League and is into the Champions League quarterfinals.
United had knocked out Arsenal and Chelsea in the previous two rounds, but manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer now has only the Champions League left as a trophy target, although his team has to get past Barcelona in the last eight.
Guardiola says he could not understand why Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology was not used at Swansea City. /VCG Photo
City completes comeback
City almost saw its FA Cup campaign ended by a Championship side for the second straight season, having lost to Wigan in the fifth round last year.
In a game played in driving rain, Matt Grimes gave Swansea the lead from the penalty spot in the 20th minute. Bersant Celina then doubled the lead by finishing off a sublime move with a curling first-time finish into the corner in the 29th.
It was a goal that had all the hallmarks of City's slick attacking play, which was missing from the visitors for most of the match.
Guardiola's team still found a way back into the game in the 69th when Aguero had a shot blocked before playing the ball out to Bernardo Silva, who rifled a shot with the outside of his boot into the corner.
Swansea City's Matt Grimes reacts after losing the FA Cup quarterfinal against Manchester City on March 16, 2019. /VCG Photo
City continued to pressure Swansea and the penalty came when Cameron Carter-Vickers was adjudged to have fouled Raheem Sterling in the box, even though replays clearly showed he got the ball.
Aguero's spot-kick then hit the post before the ball went in off the luckless Nordfeldt.
The Argentina striker then headed the winner in the 88th. However, replays showed he was offside when the cross was delivered, highlighting the absence of video reviews for the game. VAR was only in use at Premier League stadiums in the quarterfinals.
Swansea manager Graham Potter refused to blame the referee.
“City had chances of course, you can't deny if you look at the game that they deserved to win,” Potter said. “But for the players, it's disappointing to lose goals in that manner. That's life, referees make mistakes as well.”
Wolves hang on
Wolves reached the semis for the first time since 1998 after Raul Jimenez and Diego Jota scored in a six-minute span in the second half.
Jimenez swiveled in the box and fired a shot that went past two defenders and goalkeeper Sergio Romero, who had made a string of saves to keep United in the game.
Jota then finished off a lightning counter-attack to double the lead, which never looked under threat until Marcus Rashford pulled back a consolation goal deep into injury time.
Wolves produced an outstanding performance to overpower Manchester United. /CGTN
“We started too slowly and played into their hands. Our possession wasn't bright enough and quick enough,” Solskjaer said. “This was a big step backwards, mainly because of the quality of the possession and the passing.”
In the early game, Gray latched on to Roberto Pereyra's chip into the area and volleyed in left-footed in the 79th minute as Watford became the first team to book a place in the last four.
In the last quarterfinal, Millwall hosts Brighton on Sunday.
