What an Easter weekend of FA Cup action!
Four quarter-final ties, 18 goals and drama – and slight craziness – right until the end.
Undoubtedly the biggest tie of the round saw sky blue and red collide and how the Merseysiders must be fed up of the sight of Erling Haaland.
He netted the opener as Manchester City ran out 3-0 home winners over Liverpool in November and then scored a last-gasp penalty to secure a 2-1 victory at Anfield in the return league fixture in February.
Now a cup hat-trick had them reeling, City fans joyous and the home fans chanting ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ to visiting boss Arne Slot as they scored four goals in 20 minutes either side of half-time.
All this after an even opening half hour.
Put simply, City outclassed and outfought Liverpool; the hosts as excellent as the visitors were poor.
There was no magic of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge. In fairness, there was never going to be and there was no right to be.
As mentioned when Macclesfield sent holders Crystal Palace packing in round three, and that wasn’t quite the shock some portrayed it to be, major giantkilling acts aren’t realistically expected nowadays.
That’s why genuine shocks should be cherished more than ever now – because a triumph for the minnows is not just about what occurs on the pitch but also in the corridors of power as the gulf between the haves and the have-nots grows ever wider.
That was emphatically clear at Stamford Bridge on Saturday teatime.
That was when Chelsea hit League Two strugglers Port Vale for seven.
In one sense, it reminded me of 1988 when Vale, then also in the third tier of English football, shocked Spurs – FA Cup runners-up just seven months earlier.
Then the team sheets for Saturday’s teatime game landed and I was quickly reminded how much has changed. Chelsea, just like Spurs then, were littered with star players and internationals but the gap could not be bridged as a multi-million-pound side ran riot against a team which started with eight free transfers and two loan players.
If there was ever any doubt – and there wasn’t – the hosts dispelled that misplaced notion by scoring after just 64 seconds as Jorrel Hato poked home from close range once Vale failed to clear a corner.
By the time the final whistle had sounded, the billionaires from West London had added six more against a side contesting an FA Cup quarter-final for the first time in 72 years.
With Vale’s run at an end, there was only one non top flight side remaining as in-form championship side Southampton entertained title favourites and Premier League leaders Arsenal.
This was a repeat of the 2003 final, although the Saints have twice fallen on hard times since then, regularly losing their best players to bigger clubs and paying the price with spells in the Championship and, at one point, in League One.
It is to their credit that they managed to rebuild and upset the establishment again as a Premier League side from 2012-2023, since when they have experienced two relegations and one promotion.
With promotion at the first attempt the main aim, this cup tie was a free hit for a side now managed by Tonda Eckert.
As they looked to bounce back from their League Cup Final defeat, the Gunners were expected to respond positively at their start of a crucial run-in, encompassing FA Cup, Premier League and Europe.
For more than an hour, the script was ripped up as the home side more than matched their illustrious visitors and led through a goal from Ross Stewart nine minutes before the break – a fine finish from a frontman of pedigree.
Not until Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta rolled the dice and used the strong bench to his advantage did the Gunners show enough urgency.
By then they were fortunate not be two behind after Leo Scienza rifled in a superb shot that came back off the crossbar.
Within five minutes, Arsenal were level as substitute Viktor Gyokeres, the hero for Sweden in midweek, was perfectly placed to slot home an equaliser, just eight minutes after entering the fray.
Arsenal could have done without another injury blow as centre back Gabriel, who had already withdrawn from the Brazil squad last week, had to leave the field.
From that moment on, the majority would have probably expected Arsenal to take charge.
How wrong was I as substitute Shea Charles produced an excellent finish from a Tom Fellow pass to leave the South Coast faithful in dreamland.
As their fans stood and urged their team on, they had masterminded one incredible victory – and this was no fluke as they stretched their unbeaten run to 15 games, all while wearing a yellow kit to mark half a century since their FA Cup Final triumph of that year.
The spirit of 1976 is alive and well!
Exuberant celebrations for the fearless Saints, question marks for Arteta’s Arsenal – although I think they will still be celebrating come the end of the season.
Going into Easter Day and there was still for more FA Cup 2026 highlights – and, once more, we weren’t disappointed.
Leeds had one toe in the last four after Ao Tanaka’s deflected shot 26 minutes in at West Ham.
When the recalled England man Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted a second from the penalty spot with quarter of an hour remaining, Daniel Farke’s side had one foot there.
However, there was to be an amazing finish at the London Stadium.
First, Mateus Fernandes gave the home faithful brief hope when he tapped home in the third of 11 minutes of stoppage time following fine work from Jarrod Bowen.
If that roused the crowd, the majority went wild three minutes later as on-loan defender Axel Diasi managed to turn the ball home amidst astonishing scenes.
Leeds fans, who had been singing about going to Wembley, were suddenly silent in contrast to their hosts.
Extra-time came and went and there was still another storyline as, with just a few minutes left, home goalkeeper Alphonse Areola left the field with injury and was replaced by a 20 year-old debutant in in Finlay Herrick.
Was the script written for him to be a hero?
Well he did save the first spot kick of the shootout from Joel Piroe and almost saved another but it was Leeds who prevailed 4-2 in the shootout.
They will meet Chelsea in the semi-finals in the national stadium where Southampton, after beating the league leaders, will meet City, the second placed team.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
