THE FA Cup draw for the semi-finals has concluded – and we’ve got some cracking Wembley ties in store!
Last season’s runners-up Manchester City are still in the hunt and will take on Nottingham Forest should they navigate past Bournemouth this afternoon.
While Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa completes the line-up.
13′ Bournemouth vs Man City – latest
Drama on the south coast!
Tyler Adams is penalised for a handball in the area – it’s clearly accidental but his arm was in an unnatural position so the ref points to the spot.
Up steps Erling Haaland… and it’s saved by that man Kepa Arrizabalaga!
Big moment.
Bournemouth vs Man City underway
We know it is Nottingham Forest awaiting the winners of the fourth and final quarter-final.
So Nuno Espirito Santo will no doubt be keeping a close eye on events at the Vitality Stadium.
And you can, too, with our Bournemouth vs City live blog.
Finals this century
It is little surprise that the FA Cups won since the turn of the century are dominated by the biggest clubs in the country – with a few shock surprises mixed in…
- 1999–2000 Chelsea 1–0 Aston Villa
- 2000–01 Liverpool 2–1 Arsenal
- 2001–02 Arsenal 2–0 Chelsea
- 2002–03 Arsenal 1–0 Southampton
- 2003–04 Manchester United 3–0 Millwall
- 2004–05 Arsenal 0–0 [5-4 on pens] Manchester United
- 2005–06 Liverpool 3–3 [3-1 on pens] West Ham United
- 2006–07 Chelsea 1–0 AET Manchester United
- 2007–08 Portsmouth 1–0 Cardiff City
- 2008–09 Chelsea 2–1 Everton
- 2009–10 Chelsea 1–0 Portsmouth
- 2010–11 Manchester City 1–0 Stoke City
- 2011–12 Chelsea 2–1 Liverpool
- 2012–13 Wigan Athletic 1–0 Manchester City
- 2013–14 Arsenal 3–2 AET Hull City
- 2014–15 Arsenal 4–0 Aston Villa
- 2015–16 Manchester United 2–1 AET Crystal Palace
- 2016–17 Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea
- 2017–18 Chelsea 1–0 Manchester United
- 2018–19 Manchester City 6–0 Watford
- 2019–20 Arsenal 2–1 Chelsea
- 2020–21 Leicester City 1–0 Chelsea
- 2021–22 Liverpool 0–0 [6-5 on pens] Chelsea
- 2022–23 Manchester City 2–1 Manchester United
- 2023–24 Manchester United 2–1 Manchester City
New name on the cup?
So, City, Forest and Villa have all won the FA Cup – but never Palace nor Bournemouth.
Who have won the most, though?
- Arsenal: 14
- Man Utd: 13
- Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham: 8
- Man City, Aston Villa: 7
- Newcastle, Blackburn: 6
- Everton, West Brom, Wanderers: 5
- Wolves, Bolton, Sheffield Utd: 4
- Sheffield Weds, West Ham: 3
- Preston, Old Etonians, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, Bury: 2
- Leicester, Oxford Uni, Royal Engineers, Derby, Leeds, Southampton, Burnley, Cardiff, Blackpool, Clapham Rovers, Notts County, Barnsley, Charlton, Old Carthusians, Blackburn Olympic, Bradford, Ipswich, Coventry, Wimbledon, Wigan: 1
City winning machine
As for City, they have reached the semis for the last six seasons – including winning the trophy in 2019 and 2023.
They also got to the final-four stage in 2017, 2013 and 2011 – but before that, it was 1981.
City have won the FA Cup seven times.
Forest long wait
Nottingham Forest are into their first FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1991 when they went on to reach the final, losing to Tottenham.
That was the end of a run of three semi-finals in four seasons, getting knocked out by Liverpool in the final four in 1988 and 1989.
Villa ambition
Aston Villa got to the final in 2015 when they were stuffed 4-0 by Arsenal.
They also lost the 2000 final and reached the semis in 2010.
But going further back, they have lifted the iconic trophy five times, including their first appearance in the competition in 1887.
Their other successes came in 1895, 1897, 1905 and 1957.
Palace into third semi-final in nine years
As for the Eagles, they reached the final in 2016, losing to Manchester United in Louis van Gaal’s last game.
Then in 2022 they got to the final four but lost 2-0 to Chelsea.
Before that, their other final appearance was in the famous 1990 final against United – losing in a replay.
They remain without a major trophy in their history.
Could that change on May 17?
Bournemouth hoping to make history
AFC Bournemouth have never, ever reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
They can change that today.
By beating Manchester City.
The Cherries reached the quarters in 2020-21, losing to Southampton 3-0.
One match to go
So we have had three of the four quarter-finals.
The one remaining is Bournemouth vs Manchester City.
That gets underway in around 50 minutes’ time on the south coast.
Who is the favourite?
The cup really is up for grabs this year, more so than any other in recent years.
Of course, City are the standout team – but we all know about their nightmare season.
So much so that Dion Dublin can’t call it.
He says: “I can’t call a favourite from those!”
Dates for your diary
As I’m sure anyone supporting one of the remaining five teams left in the competition are well aware, the semi-finals will be played on the weekend of April 26-27.
Four weeks away.
Draw in full
- Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth/Man City
- Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa
Against No2
Aston Villa
No1 next
Crystal Palace….
Forest vs Bournemouth/Man City
Forest get No3…
That’s Bournemouth or Man City
First out…
Number 4
Nottingham Forest
Reminder of the numbers
Just again to remind you on the numbers:
- Crystal Palace
- Aston Villa
- Bournemouth or Man City
- Nottingham Forest
2011 winner Joe Hart is doing the draw in his seat next to Mark Chapman in the Deepdale studio.
Here we go, then…
Time for the 2024-25 FA Cup semi-final draw.
This promises to be a belter.
It won’t take long, too…
Hart pumping
Joe Hart is very pumped in the BBC studio at Deepdale as he prepares to get involved in the draw.
“Big moment,” he calls it.
He’s not wrong. Who will he potentially pit his former side Man City against should they get past Bournemouth?
Numbers to look out for
Okay, okay, there aren’t many to remember.
But it’s always helpful to know them…
- Crystal Palace
- Aston Villa
- Bournemouth or Man City
- Nottingham Forest
Full-time at Preston
It’s all over at Preston.
Villa have secured a 3-0 win and are into the semis.
Unai Emery’s men are off to Wembley…
Who else is in the draw?
Well, Villa are pretty much home and hosed. They are 3-0 up and cruising into the final four.
Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest booked their spots in the draw yesterday.
Palace beat Fulham 3-0 away while Forest secured a victory on penalties at Brighton.
So it bodes well for Man City – who play Bournemouth away at 4.30pm this afternoon…
Preston 0-3 Aston Villa – latest
After Rashford’s double, Jacob Ramsey made it 3-0 with 20 minutes to go at Deepdale.
His solo driving run through the middle was finished off with a shot that went through the goalkeeper.
Ollie Watkins could, maybe should, have scored at least one after coming on late on.
Preston NE vs Aston Villa update – 0-2 – 69′
The vistors’ Premier League quality has shown thanks to a brace from on-loan striker Marcus Rashford, his first goals for the club.
Credit: Rex
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
