Manchester City’s win streak continues as they beat Swansea City 3-1 in the FA Cup round of 16 to go through to the quarterfinals as Everton knock out Tottenham in a 9-goal thriller.
Man City joined neighbours Manchester United in the last 8 of the 2020/21 FA Cup by beating Swansea City 3-1. It was a comfortable victory for Pep Guardiola’s side that has extended its win streak to 15 games across all competitions!
It was complete domination by the Citizens who took the lead at the 30 minute mark as a Kyle Walker low cross into the box found the net as Phil Foden failed to connect on it, catching the keeper off guard.
England’s Phil Foden was Manchester City’s star.
(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Raheem Sterling made it 2-0 inside 2 minutes of the 2nd half with an easy finish into the bottom right corner cutting in from the left-hand side.
It took less than 3 minutes for City to go 3 up with Gabriel Jesus scoring with a beautiful touch and turn to control the ball and smash it into the goal with his left foot.
The game was all but over already and Swansea managed to find a consolation goal in the 77th minute as Morgan Whitaker beat goalkeeper Steffen to his bottom-left with a sumptuous finish.
This game was followed by Leicester City playing hosts to fellow Premier League side, Brighton and Hove Albion in the 5th round of the FA Cup. Leicester came in as the firm favourite and it was no surprise to see them go through to the last 8 alongside other the 2 clubs who are currently ahead of them in the Premier League table (Manchester City and Manchester United).
However, the game was settled in the dying moments of regulation time as Brighton was solid at the back and did extremely well to limit Leicester’s attacking chances. The Foxes only managed 3 shots on target and just 10 shots in the game.
Brighton closed off in the last minute of the game as Leicester had a corner that was taken quickly and Youri Tielemans put in a perfect cross to pick out an unmarked Kelechi Iheanacho to give Brendan Rodgers’ side the victory without having to go through an additional 30 minutes of extra time.
Bristol City player Tomas Kalas clears a shot off the goalline during The Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match against Sheffield United.
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
There were no upsets in store at the FA Cup as Premier League side Sheffield United beat Championship side Bristol City courtesy a penalty in the 66th minute that captain and Sheffield’s very own, Billy Sharp put into the back of the net after Alfie Mawson was sent off for a foul that led to the penalty.
Sheffield United were dominant and came close to scoring several times after they hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions and then a shot was cleared off the line by Bristol City. The Blades are languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table with an uphill task to stay in England’s first division.
Ghana’s Daniel Amartey in action in the FA Cup 5th Round against Brighton. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
The highlight of the day, however, was Everton’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur. With both teams hopeful of competing for places in Europe, the FA Cup tie had a lot to showcase given it is a knockout competition and it did not disappoint by any means.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton went 1-0 down very early at Goodison Park as Davinson Sanchez opened the scoring for Jose Mourinho’s Spurs in the 3rd minute scoring a beautiful glancing header from a Son Heung-Min corner.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit back at Tottenham by finding an equaliser in the 36th minute after French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris failed to parry the ball away from a thunderous hit by the English striker.
Things went from bad to worse soon after for Mourinho’s side as Richarlison made it 2-1 less than 2 minutes later with a beautiful shot at the edge of the box to pick the bottom left corner.
The Toffees were then awarded a penalty in the 42nd minute after Hojbjerg fouled Calvert-Lewin in the box, which Gylfi Sigurdsson converted to take them 3-1 up but the first half drama did not end here.
Erik Lamela pulled one back for Spurs with a beautiful left-leg finish after a nice 1-2 with Son, just before the break. The half time score read Everton 3-2 Tottenham.
The goal rush continued in the second half as Davinson Sanchez picked up an unexpected brace as another Son corner was headed by Toby Alderweireld that Olssen managed to save but the rebound went to Davinson Sanchez whose outstretched leg turned the ball into the net to make it all square as 3-3 in the 57th minute.
10 minutes later, Brazilian Richarlison scored his second of the game to make it 4-3 after he was played in by captain Sigurdsson and Spurs had to find a way back once again.
The game was far from done as England and Spurs captain Harry Kane stepped up as he does on most occasions, to score with a diving header from a Son cross to make it 4-4 in the 83rd minute.
Bernard of Everton shoots to score the winning goal during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park.
(Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Regulation time ended with the game being tied up, which meant extra time. A quick and sneaky freekick saw Spurs falling asleep as Bernard put the ball past Lloris in the first half of extra time to give the Evertonians a big victory.
The Merseysiders have managed to reach the quarterfinal stage of the FA Cup for the first time in 5 years as Mourinho’s side now has to shift focus on fighting for Champions League qualification for the next season.
Manchester City, Leicester City and Everton join Bournemouth and Manchester United in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Bournemouth is the only non-Premier League side remaining in the competition but Barnsley can change that if they manage to upset the giants Chelsea. Wolves play Southampton before this and that will be a close game to call.
Who will secure the remaining two spots in the FA Cup quarterfinals? Will it be Wolverhampton Wanderers or Southampton and Barnsley or Chelsea?
