FA Cup

FULHAM SAW triple red in one incident on a dramatic afternoon as Manchester United booked a place in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.Behind to an Aleksandar Mitrovic goal in the 50th minute, the Red Devils roared back as a storm blew up at Old Trafford.
Aleksandar Mitrovic was sent off for pushing referee Chris KavanaghCredit: Getty
Mitro was dismissed after Fulham star Willian was also sent off for a handball on the goal lineCredit: Reuters
Fulham boss Marco Silva was also sent offCredit: Getty
Bruno Fernandes converted from the spot after referee Chris Kavanagh overturned his decision and gave Willian his marching ordersCredit: PA
Marcel Sabitzer netted to put the Red Devils aheadCredit: Getty
Fulham boss Marco Silva, plus Willian and Mitrovic, were all sent off in quick succession.
Jadon Sancho’s shot had been blocked on the line by Willian and referee Chris Kavanagh went to check on the pitchside screen to see if he had handled it.
As he did Silva had a go at him and was given his marching orders.
Kavanagh then agreed it was a penalty so Willian had to go.
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Mitrovic was so incensed he turned all Paolo di Canio, barging into the ref as he shouted in his face – so he was off too as a melee then ensued.
Eventually Bruno Fernandes was able to take the spot kick in the 75th minute – sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Old Trafford was up, the nine from Fulham were all over the place, and before the celebrations for the equaliser had died down a second came just two minutes later.
Luke Shaw burst into the box from the left and fired the ball into the six yard box where Marcel Sabitzer executed a clever flick with the outside of his boot past Brend Leno.
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United ace Fernandes would then round things off in injury time.
To think it had been a rather dull first half, although Silva was going mad from the start.
There was a chance and controversy in the opening moments as Fulham went straight on the attack.
First Issa Diop’s looping header had David de Gea worried so he tipped it over the bar rather than attempt a catch.
From the resulting corner there appeared a clear push by Shaw on Mitrovic but the referee played on.
It wasn’t even checked by VAR and Silva went crazy with fourth official David Coote.
Quite what he had to do with it is another thing.
From that moment on up until the break it was virtually all United with Fernandes at the centre of everything.
He can regularly give the ball away but that is because he takes risks to put players in.
It doesn’t always work but when it does a chance is on.
The first chance for the home side unfortunately for them fell to Wout Weghorst.
Marcus Rashford found him on the top of the box, the Dutchman cut inside and his shot barely reached the goalkeeper.
Harry Maguire kept his place at the heart of the defence with Raphael Varane having a slight injury.
Although he knew early on that if United were to win this game he would not be taking part in the semi-final.
When he pulled back Mitrovic a yellow was shown, ruling him out on the totting up procedure.
Mitrovic was trying for another penalty when this time he went down under the slightest touch from Martinez who was pulling out of the challenge.
The referee was having none of it.
After the break, Fulham began on the front foot.
When an attempted clearance by Maguire rebounded back into his own box Willian was onto it.
He flicked the ball to Antonee Robinson whose angled drive was nicked over the bar by De Gea’s fingertips.
The resulting corner flew outside the box to Willian whose shot was touched round the post by De Gea again.
The next corner, however, brought Fulham’s 50th minute opener.
Former United midfielder Andreas Pereira delivered it, Diop produced a great flicked header which reached Mitrovic, who fired past Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the line.
The home side claimed Rashford had been pushed over in the box by Fulham captain Tim Ream as the flick came over but the goal stood.
It was very nearly a second for Mitrovic in the 66th minute from another corner but his header was clawed away by the United goalkeeper who was having a busy afternoon.
Not as busy as the referee was about to be as all hell broke loose with the Willian incident.
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At the end, United emerged from it all with another trip to Wembley.
Fernandes fittingly finished off with a thumping shot into the far top corner in injury time.
Mitrovic initially put Fulham ahead at Old TraffordCredit: Reuters
Bruno Fernandes rounded things off for the Red Devils in injury timeCredit: AFP More

FULHAM completely lost their heads as they had THREE men sent off in their FA Cup clash against Manchester United.And remarkably all that happened in just 40 SECONDS.

Aleksandar Mitrovic was shown a red card after putting his hands on the refCredit: Getty
Mitrovic was absolutely fuming after his team-mate Willian was sent offCredit: Getty
All hell broke loose on the Old Trafford pitch as players and coaches got involvedCredit: Getty
First boss Marco Silva was shown red as he tried to encroach the ref who was checking a Willian handball incident on the TV monitor.
The Brazilian winger was then given his marching orders for stopping the goal-bound effort.
He had used his hand to push Jadon Sancho’s effort around the post – with a corner the original decision given.
Then the red mist well and truly descended on a raging Aleksandar Mitrovic.
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This was the original incident that led to everyone losing the plot at Old TraffordCredit: PA
Fulham boss Marco Silva could not believe what was happening in front of himCredit: Rex
He appeared to shove ref Chris Kavanagh, who showed no hesitation in brandishing his THIRD red card in less than a minute.
Members of the Fulham coaching team and players then surrounded Kavanagh as things well and truly got out of hand.
Mitrovic was shoved away by his own team-mates, while Willian trudged his way towards the tunnel.
Fulham’s despair got even worse when Bruno Fernandes scored the subsequent penalty to cancel out Mitrovic’s opener.
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Fulham were now understandably all over the place, and Marcel Sabitzer put Erik ten Hag’s side 2-1 up only two minutes later from a Luke Shaw pass.
And the result was wrapped up six minutes into injury-time when Fernandes pinged one past Bernd Leno in the visitors’ goal to seal a 3-1 success and his second of the game.
Fulham boss Silva spent the rest of the game pacing up and down the United tunnel as he was left helpless as his side threw away any chance of FA Cup progression.
He refused to talk in detail about the most controversial incident of the entire game speaking afterwards, instead emphasising that Fulham were “clearly the best team”.
And he refused to accept his team “imploded” – but did acknowledge that he “shouldn’t have got sent off” but said he was mystified as to exactly what he had been sent off for.
United will now face Brighton in the semi-final.
Willian trudges off – probably not knowing how costly his handball would prove to beCredit: Getty More

IAN WRIGHT was seen blowing a kiss to an “underrated” Manchester United staff member ahead of the Red Devils’ FA Cup clash against Fulham.Arsenal legend Wright, 59, was at Old Trafford on punditry duty for ITV.
Ian Wright was at Old Trafford on Sunday ahead of Manchester United vs FulhamCredit: Getty
Benni McCarthy joined the United coaching set up last summerCredit: Getty
During the build up to the match the former Gunners striker was seen blowing a kiss at Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy.
Ex-Blackburn Rovers and West Ham striker McCarthy, 45, joined the Red Devils as a first-team coach last summer.
Wright has been vocal of his praise of McCarthy, crediting the former South Africa international for helping Marcus Rashford rediscover his best form this season.
And before the match Wright was seen waving and blowing a kiss at a United coach at Old Trafford.
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ITV presenter Mark Pougatch then asked Wright: “Who were you blowing kisses at?”
To which Wright replied: “Benni McCarthy. Underrated.
“Underrated appointment here at Man United.
“It’s no coincidence that a load of the forwards are doing a load better now that Benni is here.”
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Fans on social media agreed with Wright’s comment.
One account wrote on Twitter: “Ian Wright gassing up Benni McCarthy.”
Another said on McCarthy following the interaction with Wright: “He deserves the plaudits. What he has done with Rashford is insane. Right now Rashford is a weapon.”
And a third tweet said: “Ian Wright saying Benni McCarthy is underrated so correct he’s highly rated with Manchester United fans but to anyone else outside he’s not looked at I think Benni is absolutely [underrated].”
Wright recently praised McCarthy for helping Rashford return to form, with the striker netting 27 goals in 43 game so far this season.
He said on Match of the Day last month: “I think the acquisition of Benni McCarthy, a striker coach, has helped him.
“When you look at the movement for that goal – like Harry Maguire talking about how his heading has improved – it was brilliant.
“And that says to me that someone like Benni McCarthy’s working very closely with him. He’s improved no end.” More

MANCHESTER UNITED will face Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals after edging past Fulham.And neighbours Man City will face Sheffield United in the other clash – setting up a potential Manchester derby in the final.
Fulham were shown three red cards as they slipped from 1-0 up to a 3-1 lossCredit: PA
Erling Haaland’s latest hat-trick inspired Man City to a 6-0 win over BurnleyCredit: Getty
The FA Cup semi-finals will take place across the weekend of April 22-23.
United went 1-0 down to Fulham on Sunday evening only for the Cottagers to implode with three red cards and two goals conceded in less than five minutes.
Bruno Fernandes scored twice and Marcel Sabitzer grabbed another to seal their semi-final spot.
Man City booked their place in the quarter-finals with a comfortable 6-0 rout of Vincent Kompany’s Burnley on Saturday.
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Erling Haaland’s latest hat-trick inspired his side’s win, with Julian Alvarez grabbing a double and youngster Cole Palmer rounding off the resounding win.
Sheffield United then kicked off Sunday’s FA Cup action by twice coming from behind to beat Blackburn.
Ben Brereton Diaz had given the visitors the lead from the penalty spot, before Sam Gallagher’s own goal made it 1-1.
Sammie Szmodics scored on the hour mark to restore Rovers’ lead, but the Blades again came roaring straight back.
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Scotland international Oli McBurnie equalised on 81 minutes, before Tommy Doyle’s stunning stoppage time strike booked Paul Heckingbottom’s side a place at Wembley.
Brighton then joined Man City and Sheffield United in the semis by routing League Two Grimsby at the Amex.
The Mariners completed a stunning upset on their last visit to the south coast, when they beat Southampton 1-0 at St Mary’s.
But this proved a step too far, with goals by Deniz Undav, Solly March, Kaoru Mitoma and a double by player of the match Evan Ferguson completing a 5-0 thrashing for Brighton.
Tommy Doyle completed a thrilling Sheffield United comebackCredit: Rex
Evan Ferguson inspired Brighton to victory over League Two Grimsby TownCredit: AFP More

BRIGHTON booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley with a 5-0 win over League Two Grimsby.Deniz Undav broke the deadlock in the sixth minute, tucking home a rebound after Moises Caicedo’s effort was parried out to the German striker.
Evan Ferguson scored twice to seal Brighton’s place in the semi-finalsCredit: AFP
Deniz Undav broke the deadlock for BrightonCredit: Reuters
Brighton march on to Wembley as they seek FA Cup gloryCredit: Getty
Kaoru Mitoma had a gilt-edged opportunity to double the Seagulls’ lead but could only hook Pascal Gross’ cross over the crossbar with the goal gaping.
But an Evan Ferguson brace did put the game to bed after the break as the 18-year-old Irishman ruthlessly killed off the tie.
His first was a piece of real class as he brought the ball down in the area, turned his marker and cooly slotted home.
And a second came his way with 20 minutes remaining when he fired into the bottom corner from close range.
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Solly March then added a fourth late on with a lovely diving header, before Mitoma’s deflected effort creeped in to cap a routine afternoon.
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Ferguson showed his class with an accomplished turn and finish for his first goalCredit: AP
Solly March bagged Brighton’s fourth with a diving headerCredit: AFP
Kaoru Mitoma was at his devastating best but did miss a couple of good chancesCredit: Reuters More

TOMMY DOYLE’s late screamer against Blackburn helped book Sheffield United a Wembley FA Cup semi-final spot.The Man City loanee’s stunning strike turned out to be the winning goal in the quarter-final 3-2 thriller at Bramall Lane.

Tommy Doyle scored a brilliant winning goal for Sheffield UnitedCredit: Reuters
The goal booked his sides’ spot in the FA Cup semi-finalCredit: Getty
Rovers’ Ben Brereton Diaz had given the visitors the lead from the spot before Sam Gallagher’s own goal levelled the tie.
However, Rovers went back into the lead in the 60th minute thanks to a goal from Sammie Szmodics but Ollie McBurnie netted an equaliser in the 81st minute.
The clash looked set to end in a draw after normal time before Doyle smashed in the winner in the 90th minute.
Before the game, Doyle revealed that he wanted to emulate his grandads Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe by making it to Wembley.
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The duo are both legends at Man City, Doyle’s paternal grandfather, Mike Doyle, is Man City’s third-highest appearance-maker with 570 games for the club.
While Pardoe, Doyle Jnr’s maternal grandpa, still holds the record of being Man City’s youngest-ever player, making his debut aged 15 years and 314 days.
Both played in City’s 1969 FA Cup final triumph over Leicester, lining up in the defence at Wembley.
While they each scored in City’s 2-1 victory in the League Cup final against West Brom a year later on the same ground.
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England Under-21 starlet Doyle said: “You dream of it. Everyone says that but growing up, you do. 
“You watch games at Wembley and I have had the pleasure of seeing my grandads play at Wembley as well so that is even more of an incentive for me to do it myself.” More