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.
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel Crystal Palace piled further pressure on Leicester City manager Claude Puel on Saturday with a comprehensive 4-1 Premier League win over his
Palace rout Leicester to step up pressure on Puel - The
Spanish media call for Valverde axe, Football News & Top
Mbappe had two goals ruled out in the first half, one for offside and one for handball, but made amends after the interval as he finished from close range on 69 minutes to mark his half century in
Mbappe reaches half century as PSG brush Nimes aside
Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focussed 12/29/2018 Tell your friends. Jurgen Klopp refused to get carried away with the growing expectation that Liverpool can lift the league title for the
Sport24.co.za | Delighted Klopp tells players to stay focused
* Man City beat Liverpool 2-1, cut lead to four points Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four season on Juergen Klopp's side and cutting their lead at the top to four
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
Germany play their first international of the year against Serbia in Wolfsburg on March 20. READ ALSO: Irritated Bayern trio out to prove their worth says Kovac The post 'Angry' Mueller questions Loew decision after Germany axe appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
Thomas Muller issues emotional response following brutal
Qatar keen to impress at Copa America, says coach Sanchez . 15 May 2019 - 8:34 . Qatar coach Felix Sanchez speaking at a press conference in Doha yesterday. By Rizwan Rehmat I The Peninsula.
Qatar to take one match at a time, says coach Sanchez
Soccer: Hungry Wolves beat 10-man Manchester United 2-1 - again. Andrew Cawthorne. 3 Min Read. Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United - Molineux Stadium
Hungry Wolves beat 10-man Manchester United 2-1 - Reuters
LONDON, (Reuters) - Chelsea suffered a setback in their push for a Champions League spot when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Burnley in the Premier League yesterday and tempers flared
Chelsea draw 2-2 with Burnley, denting Champions League hopes
Football: Zohore gives Cardiff 2-1 win over Southampton in
What are some words for not giving up? However sad it may feel, if things are not working out, let go, learn from your losses and play to your core strengths.
The Reds, the Pirates, and throwing at hitters - Redleg Nation
AFC Cup 2017: South, East, Central and ASEAN Zone preview Altyn Asyr might be the fancied side in this tie but after a listless draw against FC Istiklol in the previous round, they have to get
Filipino Football: February 2017
SINGAPORE - Most of his National Football Academy Under-17 team-mates were promoted to form the first batch of Young Lions in 2003, but Baihakki Khaizan was left out because he had not played much
Thank you, Baihakki! - Football Association of Singapore
Report Ad
Check Out Real Madrid Barcelona on eBay. Fill Your Cart With Color Today!
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen