LONDON (REUTERS) The "impossible" quadruple dream remains intact for Manchester City after an early headed goal from Gabriel Jesus sealed a scrappy 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (April 6) to put them into the FA Cup final.
Jesus launched himself into the air to connect decisively in the third minute but City never hit top gear and they rather laboured to victory in an instantly forgettable match.
Nevertheless, after bagging the League Cup, being locked in a titanic battle with Liverpool for the Premier League title and in the Champions League quarter-finals, Pep Guardiola's side remain on course for an unprecedented clean sweep.
It was a tired-looking display against Premier League relegation battlers Brighton, though, and City will need to rediscover their spark ahead of Tuesday's trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Champions League last-eight tie.
Guardiola was quick to play down the "Q" word.
"My opinion is that nobody has done it (won the quadruple) so why can we do it?," Guardiola said.
"It is almost impossible to achieve everything, that is the truth. Our fans will come, more than today, for the final, we are losing players every game but still we will try to do it.
"I am happy to be in the final, we extend our season by one more week and we are happy for that."
Â
Back at Wembley where they beat Chelsea on penalties to win the League Cup in February, City were huge favourites to get past a Brighton side with other things on their mind.
Whatever plan Brighton boss Chris Hughton had cooked up to stop a City side who had won 20 of their last 22 matches in all competitions was in tatters after only three minutes.
In one of the only fluid moves they put together all afternoon at a less-than-full Wembley, Kevin de Bruyne whipped in a superb low cross and Jesus arrived at the far post to plant a diving header past Brighton keeper Matthew Ryan.
The Brighton fans, who greatly outnumbered City's in the 71,000 crowd, must have feared the worst in the south coast's club's first FA Cup semi-final since 1983 when they beat Sheffield Wednesday before losing the final to Manchester United in a replay after the first game ended 2-2.
But the onslaught never arrived.
And had City fullback Kyle Walker been shown a red card during the first half after a clash with Alireza Jahanbakhsh the outcome could have been different.
REACTED ANGRILY
Walker reacted angrily after being shoved in the back and as the players squared up face to face, he appeared to move his head into Jahanbakhsh forehead.
The incident went to the VAR, which is being used in the FA Cup, but referee Anthony Taylor was not required to send Walker off, although he was replaced at halftime by Danilo.
"I have seen it a few times and my opinion is it is a red card," Hughton said. "If Alireza goes down clutching his head it would have been a different outcome."
Brighton gradually grew in belief and but for a superb goal-line clearance by Aymeric Laporte they could have drawn level, the Frenchman hacking clear just when Glenn Murray seemed poised to equalise early in the second half.
Hughton's side caused the occasional problem from set-pieces and with City unusually lethargic the result was never in the bag until referee Anthony Taylor blew for fulltime.
City will face the winners of Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers who meet in the second semi-final on Sunday.
The Europa League's top scorer Olivier Giroud took his tally to 10 with his strike against Slavia Prague. Manager Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea's slow starts to the second half of matches are becoming a "big problem", after they were forced to withstand a Slavia Prague fightback before reaching the Europa League semi-finals.
Football: Chelsea survive Slavia scare to reach Europa League
Sports Women's World Cup: Germany snatch fortunate win over China. Germany opened their 2019 Women's World Cup campaign with a win, although the scoreline didn't reflect the true nature of the game.
Giulia Gwinn's goal helps Germany beat China to open FIFA
The 13-times winner was so convinced that De Gea was United's future No 1 that the great Scottish manager missed a game to go and watch him play. with De Gea becoming one of the best United
David de Gea: Manchester United keeper gives Ole Gunnar
A new employee might receive a welcome aboard letter from his immediate manager, the department head, or a colleague. The letter can serve as an introduction to the people on the team, outline the company's expectations for the new employee, and express gratitude for this new team member's expected contributions.
Mourning Manchester United player Wes Brown is due to abandon a team tour of South Africa following the sudden death of his pregnant half-sister. The footballer was 'stunned' by news of the sudden
Jose Mourinho told Man United should sign 23-year-old as cover
England Young Lions continue preparations for this summer's Euro U21 finals as Phil Foden and Co train ahead of Poland and Germany clashes. England Under 21s trained in Bristol ahead of clashes
Lion cubs bite their mum to hone hunting skills in South
The two most successful clubs in English football will face off in this weekend's standout Premier League fixture at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as pacesetters, Liverpool face fading force
What Zlatan Ibrahimovic told Jose Mourinho ahead of leaving
That's right, the FA Cup is alive again. Resurrected by a VAR fracas, a flurry of wonderful goal-mouth scrambles and tap ins, a couple of Cupsets and some 90th-minute magic. All hail our
Joe Palatsides is new FAS Technical Director - Football
Impressive Burnley fight back to beat Bournemouth 3-1 Soccer Football - Premier League - AFC Bournemouth v Burnley - Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, Britain - April 6, 2019 Burnleys Ashley Barnes scores their third goal REUTERS/Peter Nicholls (Reuters) - Burnley made a big step towards securing Pr
Impressive Burnley fight back to beat Bournemouth 3-1
Get the latest Iran Football news, Leagues, Scores, Stats, Standings, Rumors and more. Call in Iran for footballers to be punished over Japan melee - PersianLeague.Com (Iran Football League) Club Sites
Call In Iran For Footballers To Be Punished Over Japan Melee
Rosell, his wife and four others, were accused of "large-scale money laundering" of close to 20 million euros ($23 million) since 2006, relating Spain court acquits former Barcelona president of
Spain court acquits former FC Barcelona president of money
0 comments:
Post a Comment