English FA Cup quarterfinal review
Published 3/12/2007 6:02:27 AM by Shane Barrow from Dallas, Texas
Chelsea 3 Tottenham 3
Chelsea produced a sensational second-half fightback to keep their FA Cup dreams alive in a remarkable six-goal thriller at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had looked down and out at half-time after they trailed 3-1 to a vibrant Tottenham side.
But second-half goals from Frank Lampard and substitute Salomon Kalou earned them a 3-3 draw and a replay at White Hart Lane against the odds.
Manchester United 2 Middlesbrough 2
Manchester United's treble dream survived an FA Cup rollercoaster at the Riverside as they drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough. In front and in control following Wayne Rooney's clinical strike midway through the first half, United found themselves behind to a durable Middlesbrough side as Lee Cattermole and George Boateng found the net either side of the interval.
But, just as on their last visit to Teesside, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were in receipt of a debatable penalty decision, referee Rob Styles ruling Boateng had handled Rio Ferdinand's flick-on. That allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to drill home his 17th goal of the campaign and earn an Old Trafford replay on Monday week.
Middlesbrough were worthy of the result, which may have created some kind of record as Gareth Southgate's men have now required second games in every round of the competition. United have drawn twice themselves now and will probably not relish the return as much as Boro.
Blackburn 2 Manchester City 0
Stuart Pearce heard the Manchester City supporters turn on their team after they exited the FA Cup with a 2-0 quarter-final defeat by Blackburn at Ewood Park. Cries of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' were aimed at the players as they went to salute the fans at the end of the game. And these are anxious times for City manager Pearce after they suffered their fifth straight defeat.
Blackburn clinched a place in the semi-finals thanks to goals from Aaron Mokoena - who was later sent off - and Matt Derbyshire. Derbyshire should have put Blackburn ahead in the 26th minute following a cross from David Bentley.
Blackburn, though, made the breakthrough two minutes later with Mokoena's first goal for the club after two years and two months at Ewood Park. The South Africa midfielder, who arrived in January 2005, clipped the ball home from close range, although it appeared to take a deflection. City were guilty of poor defending with Stephen Warnock delivering the cross and McCarthy getting a vital touch before Mokoena supplied the finish.
City hit back and Darius Vassell scampered away down the right but his cross was weak and the move broke down. This was a test of their mettle now after four successive defeats and Pearce looked animated on the edge of his technical area. Hughes brought off Ryan Nelsen at the start of the second as he had been struggling with a hamstring problem and replaced him with Zurab Khizanishvili.
Bentley released Derbyshire in the 50th minute and he squared the ball across the face of the goal but there was no-one there to take advantage. A mistake by Distin almost cost City dear a minute later when he directed his clearance straight to Bentley. He immediately chipped the ball over goalkeeper Nicky Weaver's head but his instinctive effort came back off the bar.
Blackburn kept up the pressure and Derbyshire got in a good header in the 54th minute but Distin made the block. City launched a quick counter attack two minutes later and Corradi found himself clear after a neat exchange between Michael Ball and Stephen Ireland.
However, the Italian striker failed to test Brad Friedel and steered his shot wide of the post. City were anxious to grab the equaliser and Barton delivered a free kick on to the head of Richard Dunne but Friedel was able to make a comfortable save in the 62nd minute. Play switched back down the other end and Weaver did well to claw away an inswinging free kick from Bentley after Dunne had brought down McCarthy.
Watford 1 Plymouth 0
Hameur Bouazza lashed into the roof of the net to end Plymouth's brave FA Cup journey and send Watford into the semi-finals with a 1-0 win. Bouazza's strike at Home Park put Adrian Boothroyd's Premiership strugglers into the hat for Monday's draw and possibly 90 minutes away from the UEFA Cup depending on this year's finalists.
They were pushed all the way by Ian Holloway's men, who surged forward in search of an equaliser but could not find a way past Ben Foster. Watford's top-flight survival may be their priority but second-half time-wasting by goalkeeper Foster suggested the FA Cup is also on their agenda.
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