Sunday, March 13, 2011

Man United ousts ailing Arsenal from FA Cup

fifa 543 Man United ousts ailing Arsenal from FA Cup

Arsenal went out of a third competition in twoweeks on Saturday when Manchester United reached the FA Cupsemifinals with a 2-0 victory that vindicated manager AlexFerguson’s selection gamble.

Seven defenders started for United and left back Fabio da Silva,playing in midfield, opened the scoring before striker Wayne Rooneyheaded in another in the second half.

“We got our goals, luckily I pulled off a couple of saves and wedefended well,” United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar said.

The Gunners’ hopes of a first title since the 2005 FA Cup nowrely on overhauling United’s three-point lead in the Premier Leagueafter Barcelona ended their European campaign and Birmingham beatthem in the League Cup final.

Birmingham won’t be returning to Wembley Stadium this seasonafter Lee Chung-yong’s 90th-minute header gave Bolton a 3-2 victoryin Saturday’s other quarterfinal.

Ahead of the Old Trafford match, both managers shared the sameplight. Governing bodies have charged Ferguson (the FA) and ArseneWenger (UEFA) over their conduct toward referees, while a miserablerun of results left them both in need of a cup win.

But after United bounced back on Saturday from Premier Leaguelosses to Chelsea and Liverpool, it is Ferguson in a buoyant mood ashis focus shifts to Tuesday’s last 16 Champions League match againstMarseille.

With one eye on beating the French side after drawing 0-0 away,Ferguson deployed an experimental side that recognized the abilityof Fabio and twin Rafael da Silva to play in more attacking roles onthe flanks.

Rafael could have put United in front when his brother whipped ina cross had his header been directed lower.

But Fabio found the net in the 28th minute after starting themove with a surging run.

Having set up Rooney’s cross for Javier Hernandez, whose headerwas palmed away by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, Fabio sent the reboundinto the net.

United’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Van der Sar showed that he mightbe retiring too early in May by pulling off a string of fine savesfrom Robin van Persie and Laurent Koscielny.

Rooney extended United’s lead four minutes into the second half.Hernandez’s shot after latching onto Rafael’s cross was blocked byAlmunia, but Rooney met the loose ball with a header that lackedpower but fell into the net.

Arsenal’s misery was compounded when defender Johan Djourou wasstretchered off after being injured in a collision with teammateBacary Sagna as Almunia stopped Hernandez scoring a third. Havingused all three substitutes, Arsenal had to play with 10 men for thelast 10 minutes of the match.

Bolton will be contesting its first FA Cup semifinal since 2000when it lost to Aston Villa.

After the visitors twice threw away the lead, South Korea wingerLee ghosted into the penalty area to meet Kevin Davies’ headeracross the goal to nod in Bolton’s winner.

“Lee is capable of playing for any team,” Bolton manager OwenCoyle said. “He hasn’t had a break for two years though and we haveto be careful wih him.”

Lee made an impact with his first touch after coming off thebench with 30 minutes to go, clearing the ball off the line fromDavid Murphy following Sebastian Larsson’s corner.

Bolton forward Johan Elmander’s fierce left-footed strike putBolton in front, but it was canceled out before halftim by CameronJerome.

Kevin Davies restored Bolton’s lead with a 66th-minute penaltyafter being tripped by defender Curtis Davies.

Birmingham forward Kevin Phillips thought he secured a replaywhen he hooked the ball over goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in the80th.

On Sunday, Manchester City hosts eading and West Ham is atStoke.