F.A. CUP SEMI-FINALS
12.04.03 Previous Page Next Page
The FA Cup Semi-Final - this used to be one of weekends that I always look forward to during the course of the English League season. However, due to the onset of commercialization (money, money, money what else) there are now no more ‘live’ telecasts on our free channels anymore. Thus my enthusiasm for the most famous trophy in the world has somewhat died off.
But how wonderful the old days were. I still remember the first ever semi-final that I watched way back in 1990. It was between no-hopers Crystal Palace and the all-mighty Liverpool. Nobody (even myself) gave Palace any ghost of a chance. Especially with Liverpool in red-hot form and on their way to clinching the last of their League titles. The statistics said it all - in their two league meetings Liverpool have won both and scored an amazing 11 goals (yes, I did not make a mistake) past their hapless opponents, including a fantastic 9-0 win at Anfield. But obviously, nobody gave Palace the script and despite falling behind to a first half Ian Rush goal (here we go again), they rallied back and clinched the tie 4-3 after an exciting 120 minutes of football. (Just for information Palace went on to lose the Final to Manchester United after a reply. But that is another story on another day).
Since then, FA Cup semi-finals have been a fantasy to watch. Who can forget Gascognie and Lineker-inspired Tottenham Hotspurs’s fantastic 3-1 win over fiercest rivals Arsenal in 1991? Or the Darren Anderton-led Portsmouth that came within the frame of a crossbar and only the pressure of the penalty shootout denied them an all-first division final against Sunderland. How about Joe Royal’s ‘dogs-of wars’ beating the Jugern Klinsmann-led Tottenham 4-1 in 1995? And the list goes on and on and on….
But back to 2003 again and the magic of the Cup has returned. Fist stop who could have expected little Shewsbury to beat the high-flyers Everton 2-1(Bad day at the office says Mr Moyes)? The next day came news of Wolves upsetting mighty Newcastle 3-2 (classic FA Cup tie but certainly not classic for any Magpies fans). In the subsequent rounds came Liverpool’s unexpected 0-2 loss to Palace (signs of a deja vu), Fulham’s tired 0-3 loss to Burnley, Fist Division-bound West Brom and Sunderland both losing 0-1 to Watford and Leeds succumbing 0-1 to Cup specialists Sheffield United. I cannot remember a time where there are so many upsets and five non top-flight teams reach the quarterfinals.
But despite all these, as in previous years, FA Cup is getting to be very predictable yet again (yawn). I am always a great supporter of underdogs if I were to have it my way, I would definitely love to see a first-ever all First Division Final between Watford and Sheffield United. But much as I hate it, I have to admit that Arsenal has been the team to beat and they are deserving winners the FA Cup this season (hey the Final is not over yet!). Why? For the simple reason that they took this competition seriously and have already eliminated two of the best teams in the country. On so many occasions they could have just given up and simply field a reserve team, lose the game and concentrate on the bigger prize of the League title and the Champion’s League. But they did not.
Firstly they eliminated Oxford, then gave non-league Farnborough a footballing lesson they would never forget. After that they best fiercest rivals Manchester United 2-0 at the Theatre of Dreams (more like a nightmare to the Red Devils for me). Then came their most impressive performance. Despite a crowded fixture list and some very weary legs, they somehow managed to summon up enough strength to eliminate their biggest threat left in the competition - Chelsea - after 180 minutes of pulsating football. And if they continue to show the kind of resolve as they displayed in the previous round, I can only see one FA Cup winner in 2003.
(Arsenal for the back-to-back double?)
As for the other three semi-finalists - Sheffield United, Watford and Southampton, I’m afraid they are only there to make up the numbers. Sheffield United may have an excellent Cup run this season but I cannot see Neil Warnock’s side upsetting the mighty Gunners. It will be a great day for both Southampton and Watford in the other semi final and whoever can reach the Final will have a great day in Cardiff. But as I said I can only see one of them making up the opponent for Arsenal to complete a potential back-to-back Double.
I hope any of the three sides can prove me wrong and create one of the biggest-ever FA Cup upsets since 1988. But for the moment, I’m sticking my guns to the Gunners.
As for the Final, let’s talk about it another day……….
Football Junkie (Guest Writer)
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