4/22-4/23 Weekend Game Thread: FA Cup matches that are actually interesting

coremiller

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Teams for Spurs v. Chelsea:

Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Ake, Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso, Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro.
Subs: Begovic, Zouma, Terry, Chalobah, Fabregas, Hazard, Costa.

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Trippier, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Wanyama, Dembele, Son, Eriksen, Dele, Kane.
Subs: Lopez, Davies, Walker, Wimmer, Sissoko, Nkoudou, Janssen.

Lots of oddities here. No Hazard or Costa? What's with that Spurs backline?

Supposedly this is only the second time ever the top two in the league have met this late in the FA Cup. The other was in 1999, when Man Utd beat Arsenal on Giggs' wonder goal in extra time after Bergkamp missed an injury time penalty that would have won the tie. Let's hope today's match is as good as that one.

In the undercard Swansea and Hull are both winning while Boro are getting whacked by Bournemouth. Bye bye Boro.
 

coremiller

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Since this is a Spurs FA Cup semi at Wembley, here's the ceremonial remembrance of Gazza's free kick:



(meanwhile I'm pretending like the 5-1 loss to Chelsea in 2012 never happened)
 

coremiller

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Already Son gets caught massively out of position and Chelsea get a good break down that side.
 

coremiller

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And now Alerweireld gets booked after another promising Chelsea break. Not a good start.
 

coremiller

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I think Lloris should have done more on the free kick. Why did he get wrong-footed to the wall side?
 

coremiller

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There was contact, but Moses initiated it. It's like one of those annoying three-point attempt fouls James Harden gets all the time.
 

coremiller

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Blech. Chelsea have scored from a free kick, a marginal penalty, and a shot from outside the box after a corner. Three goals without actually creating a single clear chance.
 

coremiller

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When Matic starts belting in thunderbolts from 25 yards out, it's just not your day. #spursy
 

Schnerres

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I bet it´s maximum 30mins until Xhaka either gets a yellow card or commits a decisiva mistake that will bring a 100% scoring chance for City.
 

InstaFace

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Good thing no one took you up on your bet.

City had all the possession, but the chances were fairly even in that first half.

Any idea why Bellerin isn't starting? Ox is getting abused at RM in their 3-4-3.
 

candylandriots

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I'm a bit worried about Palace's defense against Liverpool minus Sakho. He's really made such a huge difference.
 

Schnerres

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Looks like Cech was a step late to come out and cut down Aguero´s angle.

Goal came while Arsenal was gaining some momentum..30mins to go.
 

miracleofmidre

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Petr Cech so indecisive on that break by Aguero. He should have pounced on a heavy touch but for some reason stopped. Aguero's deft finish will get the praise, but to me that one is rooted in questionable goaltending (to say nothing of the defense being absent).
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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Really a mistake by Cech on that goal. Aguero let the ball get too far out in front of him. With any aggressiveness, Cech could easily have grabbed that ball.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Wengerball in a nutshell. We leave only one man back and it's our slowest defender for some reason, then we get opened up because Ramsey unnecessarily fucks around with the ball, completely oblivious to the broader game situation.
 

Time to Mo Vaughn

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I assume because this is a neutral site hand that it can't go to a draw and replay? Tie would mean an extra 30 minutes then PKs?
 

teddykgb

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Had Silva kicked off the park, a good goal disallowed, a penalty waved off, and hit the frame twice. I know how this ends and I'm going to be furious
 

candylandriots

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I don't know enough about goalkeeping to say this, but I'm going to say it anyway. Wayne Hennessey is absolutely terrible on free kicks.
 

candylandriots

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I think you're being really harsh on Hennessy. That kick was perfectly placed.
I know I am. It's just he also seems to get beat on free kicks that aren't as well done. And I'm a little confused why he had to set up so close to the far post. The dude is like 6'10" and he was like 3 feet from that side and left tons of space to his right.
 

candylandriots

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That seems like a harsh yellow for Benteke there. Fine don't give the penalty but there was solid contact there.
 

coremiller

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Had Silva kicked off the park, a good goal disallowed, a penalty waved off, and hit the frame twice. I know how this ends and I'm going to be furious
You could have posted this during, what, maybe ten other matches this season? City have been ridiculously snakebit this year.