Arsenal score 4 to beat Everton in FA Cup
LONDON: Two goals from late substitute Olivier Giroud and one apiece by Mesut Ozil and Mikel Arteta secured Arsenal’s place in the FA Cup semifinals with a 4-1 win against Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Ozil gave Arsenal a seventh minute lead, after a precise through ball from Santi Cazorla but Everton equalised after a surging run from Ross Barkely resulted in a Romelu Lukaku tap-in after 32 minutes. Arsenal regained the lead in the 68th minute after Gareth Barry tripped Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the box and Mikel Arteta converted the penalty. Striker Olivier Giroud then came off the bench to score twice in two minutes, in the 83rd and 85th minutes, to keep Arsenal on course for their first trophy for nine years. In an end-to-end cup tie it looked as though the visitors might force a replay but Arteta’s penalty was the turning point in the game, forcing Everton to push forward in search of another equaliser, leaving themselves open at the back. Arsenal now enter the draw for the semifinals at Wembley with high hopes of winning their first major trohpy in nine years. They won the FA Cup in 2005. The rest of the FA Cup quarter finals will be played on Sunday. Sheffield United host Charlton, while Sunderland travel to Hull City, and Manchester City welcome Wigan Athletic in a repeat of last year’s FA Cup final. (AFP)
Man United shine against West Brom
London: Manchester United kept their faltering push for a Champions League place alive with a breezy 3-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday. Goals from Phil Jones, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck gave United back-to-back league wins for the first time since December, following their 2-0 success at Crystal Palace last month. Victory took the defending champions to within nine points of fourth-place Manchester City, although they have played two more games, while Pepe Mel’s West Brom remain a point above the relegation zone in 17th place. United’s last game at The Hawthorns had been Alex Ferguson’s last as manager and his successor, David Moyes, was looking for a reaction to his side’s shock 2-0 loss to Olympiakos in the Champions League. United broke through in the 34th minute. A free-kick wide on the right gave Robin van Persie an opportunity to whip a cross into the box and Jones stole in front of a clutch of defenders to beat Foster with a glancing near-post header. United tightened their grip on proceedings in the 65th minute, with Rooney nodding in a cross from Rafael at the back post to claim his 11th league goal of the campaign. Welbeck killed off the home fans’ hopes of a comeback in the 82nd minute when he ran onto Rooney’s through ball to curl a shot past Foster. In other matches, Cardiff beat Fulham 3-1 at home, Southampton won 1-0 away at Crystal Palace and Norwich were held to a 1-1 draw against Stoke at home. Chelsea were playing Tottenham Hotspur at the time of going to press. (AFP)
Barca suffer shock defeat at Valladolid
Madrid: Barcelona slumped to their third defeat in seven league games as they lost away to relegation-threatened Valladolid 1-0 on Saturday. Italian Fausto Rossi scored the only goal of the game as he slammed home from close range after 17 minutes. Valladolid goalkeeper Diego Marino was forced into four saves by Lionel Messi, but it was Neymar who had the best chance to level when he ballooned over just before the hour mark. However, the Catalans couldn’t find a way through and could fall four points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid should Los Blancos beat Levante at home on Sunday. Despite the majority of his squad having been away on international duty in midweek, Barca boss Gerardo Martino named almost his strongest starting line-up with only Jordi Alba and Andres Iniesta missing out. However, after Messi had forced Marino into an early save at the end of a swift counter-attack, it was Valladolid who had the upper hand in the opening half hour. Rossi opened the scoring with his first goal for Valladolid as he took advantage of a ricochet off two Barca defenders inside the area to fire past Victor Valdes. In another match, Real Betis beat Getafe 2-0, with two later games still to play at the time of going to press. (Reuters)