United edge Liverpool in classic encounter
Manchester United ended Liverpool's quest for a quadruple of trophies in Jurgen Klopp's final season after Amad Diallo's winner edged a thrilling FA Cup quarter-final 4-3 after extra-time. The Ivorian winger was sent off for a second booking after taking his shirt off in celebration at the end of a chaotic 120 minutes that kept United's chances of ending the season with silverware alive. Twice Erik ten Hag's men had to stage late comebacks to reach the last four. Two goals in three minutes from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah towards the end of the first half turned swung the game in Liverpool's favour after Scott McTominay opened the scoring. Antony's first goal at Old Trafford for more than a year kept United alive to send the game into extra-time. Once again Liverpool edged in front when Harvey Elliott's deflected shot found the bottom corner. But Marcus Rashford, who had missed a glorious chance to win the tie deep into injury time, made amends by drilling home to make it 3-3. Diallo then scored just his second ever United goal in added time of extra-time at the end of a breakneck counter-attack from a Liverpool corner, led by the impressive Alejandro Garnacho. Chelsea substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke scored stoppage time goals to earn a thrilling 4-2 home victory over second-tier Leicester City on Sunday and a place in a the FA Cup semi-finals. Chelsea had looked in full control at halftime after goals from Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer, though Raheem Sterling had also had a penalty saved by Jakub Stolarczyk's legs. However, a howler from Chelsea's France defender Axel Disasi gifted Leicester a goal in the 51st minute when his pass back from distance flew straight into his own goal. Ten minutes later Stephy Malvididi produced a stunning individual strike to put Leicester level. But with eight minutes added on and Leicester down to 10 men after Callum Doyle was sent off in the 73rd minute, Chukwuemka turned Cole's back flick into the net and Madueke fired home from distance to make it four just before the final whistle. The result means FA Cup holders Manchester City will face Chelsea in the semi-finals at Wembley, while Manchester United will meet with second-tier Coventry. The draw for the last four has raised the prospect of a repeat of last season's all-Manchester FA Cup final, which City won 2-1.  West Ham United had three goals ruled out, including what would have been a dramatic stoppage-time winner, as Aston Villa came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in a fiery Premier League clash on Sunday. Michail Antonio's stooping header, his first goal since August, gave the hosts the lead after 29 minutes. West Ham had the ball in the net twice through Mohammed Kudus and Antonio either side of halftime, but neither goal stood. Villa, who felt they should have had a penalty for handball before West Ham's opener, equalised in the 79th minute when Nicolo Zaniolo poked home fellow substitute Moussa Diaby's cutback after a period of sustained pressure. The visitors, seeking to regain the advantage in a battle with Tottenham Hotspur for fourth place, could not grab a winner and West Ham seemed more likely to take the three points. James Ward-Prowse was denied by Matty Cash's fantastic block before the England midfielder's late free kick was bundled in to spark delirious celebrations at the London Stadium. But a VAR check of more than five minutes found that the ball had hit Tomas Soucek's arm before it crossed the line, leaving the home fans frustrated and both sides with a point. West Ham boss David Moyes refused to answer questions after the game about VAR, which had earlier chalked off what would have been a second goal for Antonio. "I've got nothing to say on the VAR decisions, you can contact Howard yourself," Moyes told reporters, referring to referees' body PGMOL chief Howard Webb. Moyes added that VAR decisions had gone against West Ham in recent games against Burnley and German side Freiburg in the Europa League, which he said was "hard to take". Villa manager Unai Emery, however, said the decision to rule out West Ham's winner was "completely fair". He told reporters that a point was a good result for Villa, though his side missed a chance to stretch their advantage over their direct rivals for the top four. Villa remain fourth on 56 points, three points above Spurs in fifth, having played a game more. West Ham are seventh on 44, three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United who have a game in hand. (AFP, Reuters)_____________________________
Last updated: 2024-03-18 HKT 03:35  