FA Cup 5^th Round Review

By Gautam Swaminathan

Liverpool v/s Manchester United

Perhaps the biggest fixture of the season for both these sides as they wanted to keep their FA Cup hopes alive. Manchester United suffered an early setback as Rio Ferdinand failed his fitness test and so Nemanja Vidic was given a start. Sir Alex had to go with an inexperienced centre back combination with Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic. Good news for Liverpool fans as goal keeper Jose Reina started. Xabi Alonso was left out of this match. Robbie Fowler was cup tied so he was unavailable which meant that Peter Crouch would start instead of Ciise and Morientes retained his place in the eleven.

Liverpool started the match with a bang and within minutes they had their first chance of the match. Steven Gerrard's cross met Harry Kewell who has been in good knick of late and his shot was saved acrobatically by Edwin Van Der Sar. But the resulting corner was a short corner taken quickly by Gerrard who passed it to Steve Finnan and his cross was met by Peter Crouch as he gave the European Champions the lead after just 19 minutes. Rafa Benitez taking a big gamble as he gave crouch the start and this gamble paid off. Liverpool were clearly the better team as Manchester United's weak defence was tested several times and to add to their problems Mikael Silvestre had to be substituted at half time. The second half was a fierce battle as Man Utd looked for a comeback but the Liverpool defence was solid. The best chance of the game for Man Utd was for Ruud Van Nistelrooy as he wasted too much time and the Liverpool defenders quickly reacted.

The game had no less than 40 fouls and the game had 7 yellow cards. Liverpool proved to be too strong for their opposition and they were looking set to reach the Quarter final stage of the competition. On the very last minute Man Utd suffered yet another setback as mid fielder Alan Smith suffered a freak injury. The Englishman was defending a Liverpool free kick and Riise's powerful free kick hit the bottom of his foot. By the looks of it Alan Smith would certainly be out for the rest of the season thanks to a broken leg and a stress fracture on his ankle.

But all smiles for the European Champions as they beat Man Utd in the FA Cup after 85 years and by doing so they made it to the Quarters. Liverpool are now firm favorites to reach the final which will take place at Wembley. Rafa Benitez said in the interview later that "It's hard to loose a match at Anfield with our fans behind us".

Charlton Athletic v/s Brentford

Charlton have been very impressive at "The Valley" off late and they continued their good run of form as they entertained Brentford. Darren Bent has been in an excellent form as he has scored 4 times in the last 4 games. Bent gave the premiership side the lead in the 3^rd minute. Charlton were clearly outplaying their opponents and they got their reward minutes before half time as Jay Bothroyd scored from 25 yards out. His powerful free kick gave the Charlton a 2 0 lead just at the break. Conceding two very sloppy goals lowered the confidence level of Brentford as Bryan Hughes sealed the game with an easy finish in the 62^nd minute as Charlton were heading to the Quarters. Brentford did get some conciliation as Isaiaih Rankin scored on the 83^rd minute but it proved to be too little as Charlton won the game.

Newcastle v/s Southampton

FA Cup was the only chance of silverware for Alan Shearer's men and they headed into this match with a good victory over Aston Villa. Newcastle started the game really well as Shola Ameobi had a few chances but Southampton goal keeper, Claus Lundekvam made some sensational saves as he kept Southampton in the hunt. At halftime both sides were level but Newcastle were clearly the better side and they didn't want to take this match to a replay. Newcastle started off from where they left off as they pounded shot after shot on Lundekvam's net but the young goal keeper was not to be beaten. But he eventually had to give way for a goal from Kieron Dyer as he slotted home thanks to a lovely through ball from Charles N'Zogbia. Some sloppy defending from Southampton and too add insult to injury, Goal keeper Lundekvam suffered an injury just after Southampton had used up all of their 3 substitutions. They had to play the remainder of the game with 10 men as substitute Dexter Blackstock took the gloves. Newcastle moved to the final 8 in the competition.

Bolton Wanderers v/s West Ham

Honors even at the Reebok stadium as Bolton fail to make most of the home advantage. Not the best of conditions at the Reebok Stadium, as West Ham were welcomed by a Bolton side who were famously strong at home. What was at stake? A place in the last eight of the oldest competition in England. Both teams played with fury as tackles were flying in and none of the teams really made their chances count as the first half ended goalless. Kevin Nolan came closest to scoring as his shot went wide. But a spirited second half performance from West Ham ensured that they would take the match to the replay. Paul Konchesky proved to be very dangerous down the left hand side but his crosses were not met by the West Ham players and in the end it ended in a disappointing 0 0 draw. For West Ham fans it was a good result but the replay was to be played. With European matches round the corner Bolton are going to face Fixture congestion as they play 4 games in the space of a week. This would give a slight advantage to West Ham.

Chelsea v/s Colchester United

42 places separated the two teams as England's best football team entertained League 1 side Colchester. Colchester were in a 4 match winning streak and they were no pushovers. Jose Mourinho made 9 changes to the side that went down to Middlesborough. John Terry, William Gallas, Del Horno, Frank Lampard and Hernan Crespo were rested before their crucial encounter with Barcelona. The pitch was in terrible condition as it rained continuously in London.

Chelsea started in an unlikely fashion as they were 1 - 0 down after just half an hour gone in the game. Perhaps they took Colchester too lightly as the goal coming from an unlikely source as Ricardo Carvalho scored the Own Goal. Kevin Watson's cross was intercepted by Carvalho and to Chelsea's misfortune the ball ended up in the back of the net. Keeper Carlo Cudicini had no chance. But Chelsea responded quickly as Portugal defender Paulo Ferreira scored the equalizer. The half ended at 1 1 and Colchester were clearly the better team and an upset was on the cards. But then manager Jose Mourinho brought on Frank Lampard, Hernan Crespo and Joe Cole and this proved to be the decisive move as Chelsea pressurized the Colchester defence but the keeper Aidon Davidson wasn't going to give up very easily. Some good defending from the full backs forced Chelsea to shooting from 25 yards out. Luck was on Colchester's side as they continued to hang on and try and take it to the replay at Colchester. But Colchester's luck finally ran out on the 79^th minute as the keeper failed to collect Crespo's shot and Joe Cole pounced on the rebound and he gave Chelsea the lead. Heart breaking for Colchester fans as they pushed more men forward and in the last kick of the game Cole added his second to give Chelsea the win 3 1.

The match was a hard fought match but one would feel that the score line was a little unfair to Colchester but nevertheless Chelsea confirmed their place in the last eight of the competition.

Aston Villa v/s ManchesterCity

17 year old Micah Richards saved the day for the city team as his goal late in the game took the match to the replay at the City of Manchester stadium. But Stuart Pearce would feel hard done as his side thoroughly dominated their opposition but they failed to convert their chances. Former Villa man Darius Vassell was the culprit as he should have killed the game in the first half itself. Pearce's new signing Georgios Samaras was looking dangerous but Thomas Sorensen was keeping brilliantly and he denied two shots from Samaras. Sylvain Distin had one of the best chance of the match as his shot went over the bar. Joey Barton's corner was failed to be converted by Antoine Sibierski. ManCity were getting frustrated as they had 4 yellow cards in the whole game compared to Villa's 1. But the break through had to come as ManCity were caught napping as Milan Baros scored his 9^th goal of the campaign. He gave Aston Villa a rather undeserved lead in the 72^nd minute. City pushed all their men forward and in the dying moments of the game Barton's corner was met by teenage prodigy Micah Richards as he restored ManCity's FA Cup hopes. This was just his second start as he proved worthy of a place in the starting line-up more regularly. If Stuart Pearce wins the FA Cup he would be the first English Manager to do so in more than 10 years.

In other results Birmingham beat Stoke City away from home 1 0, the goal coming from forward Mikael Forssell.

Middlesborough also had success over Preston North End as they beat the league 2 side 2 goals to nil, Yakubu netted home both the goals giving Middlesborough their 3^rd win in a space of 1 week.

Results: