Wednesday, March 28, 2012

KOP News # 1054

Double derby date for Wembley as FA Cup semi-final line-up is complete

By Sami Mokbel and Dominic King

PUBLISHED: 00:02 GMT, 28 March 2012 | UPDATED: 00:02 GMT, 28 March 2012

Wembley will host a derby double header next month after the FA Cup semi-final line-up was decided in dramatic circumstances.

Everton set up a date against their fiercest rivals, Liverpool, on Saturday, April 14 after they produced a brilliant performance at the Stadium of Light to beat Sunderland 2-0 in their quarter-final replay.

Tottenham will then face Chelsea 24 hours later to complete a weekend of what promises to be fantastic football, after beating Bolton 3-1 in the  re-arranged quarter-final at White Hart Lane.

Hot Spurs: Tottenham will play Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final

It will be the first time Everton have faced Liverpool at Wembley since the emotional FA Cup final in 1989 and there will be an added poignancy to this game, as it will take place 24 hours before the 23rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. 

Everton manager David Moyes — whose side won through Nikica Jelavic and a David Vaughan own goal — said: 'Liverpool will be favourites. They have beaten us twice this season. But we will go down there and play. Sometimes it suits us being the underdogs.

'This club have a history of being in semi-finals and finals. There are a lot of games before we play Liverpool but we are delighted to have that opportunity.'

Mersey madness: Everton will play fierce rivals Liverpool

Tottenham had to overcome Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan's heroics and left it late with goals from Ryan Nelsen, Gareth Bale and Louis Saha.

Manager Harry Redknapp said: 'The keeper was fantastic tonight. I remember his first game, the kid had an absolute nightmare.

'But Owen Coyle must believe in him and he showed why tonight. But I wasn't really worried. I always thought the goal would come. It was so one-sided.'

Bolton boss Coyle added: 'We have to focus on the league and make sure we stay up.'

 

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