Sports

United moves into Cup semis

March 18, 2018
Manchester United’s Nemanja Matic celebrates scoring with teammates during their English FA Cup quarterfinal match against Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in Manchester Saturday. — AFP
Manchester United’s Nemanja Matic celebrates scoring with teammates during their English FA Cup quarterfinal match against Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford in Manchester Saturday. — AFP

MANCHESTER — Headers by Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic earned Manchester United an unconvincing 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion in a low-key FA Cup quarterfinal played in freezing conditions Saturday.

United, looking to make amends after its feeble Champions League defeat by Sevilla, struggled to impose itself against Brighton before Lukaku broke the deadlock by heading home Matic’s curling, left-foot cross at the far post after 37 minutes.

The goal was Lukaku’s 12th goal in 11 FA Cup games and the Belgian’s 25th of the season in all competitions, including goals in each round of the FA Cup.

But once again, United was unable to build on the opener and lost its way in the second half as a slow tempo and lack of fluency restricted its attacking potency.

Brighton, in contrast, grew more confident as the game went on and dominated possession in the second half to keep United goalkeeper Sergio Romero busy.

Dutch forward Juergen Locadia was twice foiled by Romero and was off-target with a header from a promising Solly March cross.

But Matic calmed the nerves around Old Trafford seven minutes from time when he stole in to nod Ashley Young’s teasing free kick into the net.

“It was difficult for us after the defeat against Sevilla, of course we were very sad after the game. It was important to see a reaction today and we’re through to the next round and we’re happy,” Matic said.

United, bidding to win the FA Cup for the 13th time, joined Tottenham Hotspur in the last four. Leicester City plays Chelsea and third-tier Wigan Athletic faces Southampton in the other quarterfinals Sunday.

Salah hits four,

Liverpool goes third


Mohamed Salah struck four times in rampant Liverpool’s 5-0 thrashing of Watford that lifted it back into third spot in the Premier League Saturday.

The unstoppable Egyptian needed only four minutes to put his side in front and he doubled his tally just before halftime.

He set up Roberto Firmino for a cheeky effort early in the second half before placing a shot through a crowd of Watford defenders to complete his first Liverpool hat trick.

There was no respite for Watford at a snowy Anfield as the clinical Salah smashed in his fourth goal in the 85th minute — from his fourth shot on target.

Salah’s majestic display moved him four goals clear of Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane in the race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot, with 28, and his 36 in all competitions is the most by a Liverpool player in a debut season for the club.

Liverpool has 63 points from 31 games, two more than Tottenham Hotspur which has played 30. More importantly, it is now seven points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea in the tussle for the top four and Champions League qualification.

Salah is the first Liverpool player to score four goals in a league match since Luis Suarez in 2013 and it took him only four minutes to get started, firing in after his ball control and pace left Watford’s defense floundering.

Liverpool, which needed a positive response after losing to Manchester United last week, went off the boil for much of the first half but Salah tapped in Andy Robertson’s cross close to halftime to move past the 33 goals scored by Fernando Torres in his first season at Anfield in 2007-08.

When his cross picked out Firmino who finished with his back to goal for Liverpool’s third in the 49th minute it was a matter of how many the hosts would score.

Salah sealed his hat trick when he wriggled into the area and stabbed the ball past Watford keeper Orestis Karnezis and added his side’s fifth whe he pounced to smash home a loose ball after another fine Liverpool move.


March 18, 2018
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