LONDON (REUTERS) The "impossible" quadruple dream remains intact for Manchester City after an early headed goal from Gabriel Jesus sealed a scrappy 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday (April 6) to put them into the FA Cup final.
Jesus launched himself into the air to connect decisively in the third minute but City never hit top gear and they rather laboured to victory in an instantly forgettable match.
Nevertheless, after bagging the League Cup, being locked in a titanic battle with Liverpool for the Premier League title and in the Champions League quarter-finals, Pep Guardiola's side remain on course for an unprecedented clean sweep.
It was a tired-looking display against Premier League relegation battlers Brighton, though, and City will need to rediscover their spark ahead of Tuesday's trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their Champions League last-eight tie.
Guardiola was quick to play down the "Q" word.
"My opinion is that nobody has done it (won the quadruple) so why can we do it?," Guardiola said.
"It is almost impossible to achieve everything, that is the truth. Our fans will come, more than today, for the final, we are losing players every game but still we will try to do it.
"I am happy to be in the final, we extend our season by one more week and we are happy for that."
Â
Back at Wembley where they beat Chelsea on penalties to win the League Cup in February, City were huge favourites to get past a Brighton side with other things on their mind.
Whatever plan Brighton boss Chris Hughton had cooked up to stop a City side who had won 20 of their last 22 matches in all competitions was in tatters after only three minutes.
In one of the only fluid moves they put together all afternoon at a less-than-full Wembley, Kevin de Bruyne whipped in a superb low cross and Jesus arrived at the far post to plant a diving header past Brighton keeper Matthew Ryan.
The Brighton fans, who greatly outnumbered City's in the 71,000 crowd, must have feared the worst in the south coast's club's first FA Cup semi-final since 1983 when they beat Sheffield Wednesday before losing the final to Manchester United in a replay after the first game ended 2-2.
But the onslaught never arrived.
And had City fullback Kyle Walker been shown a red card during the first half after a clash with Alireza Jahanbakhsh the outcome could have been different.
REACTED ANGRILY
Walker reacted angrily after being shoved in the back and as the players squared up face to face, he appeared to move his head into Jahanbakhsh forehead.
The incident went to the VAR, which is being used in the FA Cup, but referee Anthony Taylor was not required to send Walker off, although he was replaced at halftime by Danilo.
"I have seen it a few times and my opinion is it is a red card," Hughton said. "If Alireza goes down clutching his head it would have been a different outcome."
Brighton gradually grew in belief and but for a superb goal-line clearance by Aymeric Laporte they could have drawn level, the Frenchman hacking clear just when Glenn Murray seemed poised to equalise early in the second half.
Hughton's side caused the occasional problem from set-pieces and with City unusually lethargic the result was never in the bag until referee Anthony Taylor blew for fulltime.
City will face the winners of Watford and Wolverhampton Wanderers who meet in the second semi-final on Sunday.
FIFA moved a step closer on Friday to expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to 48 teams and hopes to confirm the plans in June if a suitable co-host can be found. An internal feasibility study
FIFA backs 48-team World Cup in 2022 - Vanguard News
Madrid set to be Hazard's new home. After winning the Europa League, attention turns to the uncertain futures of Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard (left), seen holding the trophy with Cesar Azpilicueta.
Madrid set to be Hazard's new home - theworldnews.net
Iraq's Olympic side draw 0-0 with Iran at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran to ensure that they topped Group C of the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers. Abdul-Ghani Shahad's team will be aiming to finish in the top three of that tournament in order to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Iraq national football team - Wikipedia
Champions League: Donny Van de Beek gives Ajax edge over Tottenham in semi-final Youthful Ajax side, featuring several players polished in the Dutch club's famed academy, were too energetic for a laboured Spurs team who hardly got a kick early on in their first European Cup semi-final for 57 years.
Van de Beek gives Ajax edge over Spurs in semi-final - Al
A Tottenham legends team take on Inter Milan in a second test event on Saturday before Spurs host Crystal Palace in the Premier League in their first competitive game at the ground on April 3.
Tottenham to play Crystal Palace in first game at new stadium
Ryan Giggs has hit back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the Swede criticised the Class of '92 over their complaints about Manchester United, joking "obviously he knows more about the club than us".
Ryan Giggs hits back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic after slamming Man
A fourth straight league loss for Huddersfield's new manager Jan Siewert left the Terriers stranded six points behind Fulham and 14 adrift of 17th-placed Cardiff City as Newcastle, with a third straight home win under Rafa Benitez, moved up to 14th. Almiron, making his first start for Newcastle after his club record 20 million-pound ($26.1
VIDEO Newcastle United 2 - 0 Huddersfield (Premier League
Unai Emery admits Arsenal's 3-2 defeat to Crystal Palace was very frustrating but he tried to sound an optimistic note ahead of Wednesday's game with Wolves.. The Gunners starting lineup, heavily rotated by the Spaniard, struggled to cope with the visitors from the off and found themselves 1-0 down when Christian Benteke scored for the first time since fire was invented.
Emery, Wenger, Kroenke: who to blame for Arsenal's sh*tshow
Football: Napoli stumble at Fiorentina and trail Juventus by
London - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is relaxed about Mohamed Salah's goalscoring drought, saying the Egyptian forward remains a key part of the title chasers' attacking armoury.Salah, who
Klopp relaxed about Salah's Liverpool drought - punchng.com
Motivated for london derby, Football News & Top Stories - The
ST Young Star Award: Queensway Secondary's history-maker Putri Nur Syaliza keeps feet firmly on ground. School sports: National footballer Putri Nur Syaliza stars in Queensway's B Div girls' football title win. Her success as a footballer has come as a surprise to her.
Women's Football in Singapore - Home | Facebook
We'll start with Mr. Klopp. He was my first manager, and he was the one who believed in me and gave me the chance to debut at 17 years old. It's funny to see him now with Liverpool, because he's such a natural guy in front of the media. He's so authentic and he says whatever he wants.
Klopp: Whatever happens in title run-in, we'll have 'no
The Toffees are without three of their defenders as Yerry Mina, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are all sidelined while Lucas Digne and Idrissa Gueye both are likely to feature for Silva's side. Digne was suspended and missed their 3-1 loss to Wolves while Gueye has recovered from a groin problem.
Pep Guardiola impressed by "incredible" Brendan Rodgers
Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk - Cyprus Today, cyprus today,cyprus news,cyprus mail,cyprus newspapers,north cyprus news,cyprus news today,local cyprus news.
Dutch not favourites against struggling Germany - Van Dijk
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen