Cristiano takes centre stage
Spurs floored by Chelsea double
Cherries takeover
—– Manchester United reach a record-equalling 25th FA Semi-Final as they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 at Old Trafford in their Sixth Round replay.
Not for the first time, the mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo is at the centre of controversy as he ‘wins’ and converts the match-winning penalty.
He was felled by Jonathan Woodgate whilst in full flow, then picked himself up to coolly slot home the spot kick.
With the United winger preceded by a reputation, the penalty decision provokes a furious reaction from the Boro coaching staff.
Manager Gareth Southgate explains: “The galling thing for me is that we have played them three times this season and conceded three dodgy penalties.”
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has an alternative view: “I don’t know what they are going on about, it was a penalty.
“If it had been any other player they would not have bothered but they have a guilt complex about him.”
The matchwinner modestly reflects: “Maybe some people don’t like me. Maybe I’m too good.”
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—– Spectacular strikes from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips guide Chelsea through to a Semi-Final meeting with Blackburn Rovers.
They beat Tottenham Hotspur in the White Hart Lane replay as the hosts fail to re-capture their outstanding performance from the first meeting.
The night ends on an even more distressing note for the North London club as they will expect a Football Association charge after a so-called supporter runs on to the pitch at the end of the game and clearly aims a punch at Chelsea’s Frank Lampard.
—– The future of AFC Bournemouth is secured after a local consortium led by new chairman Jeff Mostyn complete their takeover.
With debts approaching £4million, 61 year-old Mostyn claims this was the League One club’s last hope as receivership was not an option.
He explained: “The consequences of that would mean it would be very unlikely for us to play at this stadium [Fitness First Stadium] again and, if we were to survive at all, almost certainly playing six or seven divisions lower than we are now.”
The Cherries claim they became Europe’s first community-owned club in 1997 after a supporters’ trust fund saved them from the brink of extinction following a six-month spell in receivership.
The constitution prevented any one person owning more than 10% of the club.
This clause was one of the changes voted upon at the EGM last week, so allowing the takeover to go ahead.
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