Amad Diallo on Sunday scored deep in extra-time after Marcus Rashford made amends for a bad miss to lift Manchester United to a breathless 4-3 victory over archrivals Liverpool and into the FA Cup semi-finals.
United’s victory at Old Trafford kept alive their only hope of silverware this season and spoiled Liverpool’s dreams of hoisting four trophies in manager Juergen Klopp’s final campaign with the team.
Erik ten Hag’s side are to face Championship side Coventry City in the semis after they upset Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on Saturday.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“Listen to the noise, you can tell what a big game it is, a huge occasion,” Rashford told ITV. “I haven’t had the season I wanted, but nights like this at Old Trafford are what it’s all about. We have to get something out of this season ... it’s a massive game in the history of Manchester United.”
Scott McTominay gave United a 10th-minute lead, but Liverpool turned the game on its head before halftime with goals three minutes apart from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool dominated the second half and should have put the game to bed, but United poured on the pressure late on and Antony spun in the penalty area before slotting home past two Liverpool players in the 87th minute — the Brazilian’s first goal at Old Trafford in more than a year — to force extra-time.
Harvey Elliott brought the 9,000 traveling Liverpool fans to their feet in the 105th minute when his long-range rocket deflected off Christian Eriksen’s foot and between Harry Maguire’s legs into the bottom corner, but once again 12-time FA Cup winners United — who are four places below Liverpool in an English Premier League season to forget for Ten Hag’s side — kept their foot on the gas.
“Super intense,” Klopp said. “We used the time and adapted well. We were outstanding, but we had to finish the game off and we didn’t.”
Rashford, who had missed a sitter, made it 3-3 in the 112th minute, calmly slotting a picture-perfect pass from McTominay into the bottom corner before running to United’s fans, where he was mobbed.
“Rashford is resilient, he keeps going, normally he finishes those moments, but he kept going for another chance. That inspired the other players,” Ten Hag said.
Then Alejandro Garnacho and Diallo charged up the pitch on a breakaway after a Liverpool corner, with Diallo firing home the winner in the 120th minute to a deafening roar from the Old Trafford faithful, leaving Klopp looking stunned.
“We deserved this win, we played very good, it was one of the best games of the season. It’s the best goal of my life, it’s a really important moment,” Diallo said. “You need to believe in every single moment, this is football.”
Diallo was then sent off after receiving a second yellow card for his celebrations.
Earlier, Chelsea substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke scored stoppage-time goals to earn a thrilling 4-2 home victory over battling second-tier side Leicester City to set up a semi-final against Manchester City.
The match had everything needed for a classic cup tie, including end-to-end action, a missed penalty, a red card, a howler of an own-goal and some sumptuous strikes.
Chelsea had looked in full control at halftime after goals from Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer, although Raheem Sterling also had a feeble penalty saved by Jakub Stolarczyk.
However, a horrible mistake from Chelsea 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 goal, dribbling and sidestepping Malo Gusto before curling the ball into the top corner to put Leicester level.
Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has suffered criticism for some of his side’s performances in the league this season, said the game had been tougher than it needed to be.
“Because if we score in the first half all the chances we create, it is finished in 45 minutes,” he said.
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