2019 FA Cup Final Review

After Carabao Cup and Premier League success, Manchester City added the FA Cup to their trophy haul for the season with a record-equalling 6-0 win over Watford.

City led 2-0 at half-time after an opener from David Silva on 26 minutes was followed by a Gabriel Jesus strike eight minutes before the interval.

Watford's hopes were all but dashed by the hour as Kevin De Bruyne made it 3-0 and just seven minutes later its was a case of when rather then if City struck again with Jesus firing in for 4-0.

The rout was completed by a late brace from Raheem Sterling as he struck in the 81st and 87th minutes for 6-0, a scoreline that equals Bury's record of 1903. 

2019 Champions League/Europa League Semi Final Second Leg Reviews

After mixed results in the opening legs, it was two stunning second legs that set-up an all-English final in the Champions League.

Liverpool needed a miracle after a 3-0 loss in Barcelona and did just that with a superb 4-0 win to secure a trip to Madrid, winning 4-3 on aggregate.

Divock Origi fired the Reds 1-0 up (1-3 agg) inside seven minutes before two goals in as many minutes from half-time sub Georginio Wijnaldum made it 3-0 and levelled the tie at 3-3 on aggregate. Barcelona's miserable night at Anfield only got worse as quick thinking saw Origi slot in his second for 4-0 and complete the turnaround for a 4-3 aggregate win.

Wednesday night saw Tottenham Hotspur overturn a 1-0 first leg deficit to Ajax Amsterdam with a 3-2 win that ensured they advanced on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate. Ajax extended their overall lead with first half strikes from Matthijs De Ligt and Hakim Ziyech putting them 2-0 up and 3-0 ahead on aggregate. Tottenham fought back superbly as Lucas Moura struck twice in three minutes to level on the night at 2-2 (3-2 agg) before a last-gasp strike to complete his hat-trick stunned Ajax and sent Spurrs into the final on away goals.

For the first time ever, both European competitions will have a quarter of teams from the same country as the Europa League will also feature an all-English final.

Chelsea secured their spot in the final after a 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt saw the sides level at 2-2 on aggregate and resulted in the Blues winning 4-3 on pens. Ruben Loftus-Cheek made it 1-0 (2-1 agg) to Chelsea on 28 minutes before Luka Jovic levelled four minutes after half-time. The tie went into extra time but had then to be settled in a shootout with Chelsea winning 4-3.

Arsenal set-up an all-English final against their city rivals after claiming a 4-2 win over Valencia which saw them advance 7-3 on aggregate. The La Liga side opened the scoring through Kevin Gameiro on 11 minutes for 2-3 on agg but a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leveller six minutes later made it 1-1 and 2-4 on agg. Alexandre Lacazette put the Gunners 2-1 upon the night as they led 2-5 on agg but Gameiro struck again ti cut the gap before the hour. Valencia's hopes were ended by two further efforts from Aubameyang who completed his hat-trick late on for 4-2 and a huge 7-3 aggregate victory. 

2019 Champions League/Europa League Semi Final First Leg Reviews

The possibility of two all-English finals in European competition looks unlikely after mixed results in the first legs of the Champions League semi finals.

Tottenham Hotspur's hopes suffered a blow as they lost 1-0 to Ajax Amsterdam. The crucial strike came after just 15 minutes as Donny Van de Beek fired in to give Ajax what could be a valuable away goal.

Liverpool also will need to overturn a first leg loss as they went down 3-0 at Barcelona. Ex-Reds striker Luis Suarez put the hosts ahead on 26 minutes before two stunning strikes in seven minutes from Lionel Messi confirmed a 3-0 win with efforts coming on 75 and 82 minutes.

The English duo in the Europa League semi finals fared better in the first legs starting with Arsenal claiming a 3-1 win at home to La Liga side Valencia.

The Gunners suffered an early blow as Mouctar Diakhaby put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute but they fought back as Alexandre Lacazette struck an eight minute brace to level and put Arsenal 2-1 up before Pierre Aubameyang wrapped up the win late on.

Chelsea drew 1-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt and will hold the advantage of an away goal into the second leg. Frankfurt opened the scoring through Luka Jovic on 23 minutes but the Blues hit back just before the interval as Pedto struck for 1-1 with what could be a vital away goal. 

2019 Europa League Quarter Final Second Leg Review

The Europa League quarter final second legs began with a seven goal thriller at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea edged out a 4-3 win over Slavia Prague to advance 5-3 on aggregate.

A rapid start from the Blues saw Pedro and Olivier Giroud strike either side of an unfortunate own goal for Simon Deli for a 3-0 lead and huge 4-0 aggregate advantage. Slavia cut the gap through Tomas Soucek before Pedro's second goal on 27 minutes looked to have wrapped up the tie at 4-1 (5-1 agg). The visitors had other ideas as a rapid brace from Petr Sevcik made it 4-3 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate but to no avail as Chelsea held on to advance.

Eintracht Frankfurt overturned a 4-2 first leg deficit with a 2-0 win over Benfica which saw the Germans advance on away goals after drawing 4-4 on aggregate. Filip Kostic made it 1-0 (3-4 agg) on 36 minutes before Sebastian Rode doubled the lead and levelled on aggregate in the 67th minute. Late drama saw Benfica denied a potential winner by Frankfurt 'keeper Kevin Trapp who's save ensured the Germans advanced on away goals.

Arsenal kept up the chances of an all English final as they reached the last four after a 1-0 win and 3-0 aggregate victory over Napoli.

The Gunners extended their 2-0 first leg advantage with Alexander Lacazette's 36th minute effort which proved to be enough to secure the win and a place in the last four.

They will meet Valencia who eased through 5-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 win over fellow La Liga side Villarreal.

'Toni Lato' put the hosts ahead on 13 minutes to make it 1-0 (3-1 agg)) before the win and advancement were secured by Daniel Parejo's 54th minute strike for 2-0 (5-1 agg) as they setup a tie with Arsenal in the last four.

2019 Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg Reviews

Manchester United's hopes of reaching the last four ended with a 3-0 loss at Barcelona with the Catalans advancing 4-0 on aggregate.

A brace from Lionel Messi in the 16th and 20th minutes left United with a huge task at 2-0 (3-0 agg) and their slim hopes were dashed on the hour as Philippe Coutinho wrapped up the tie at 3-0 (4-0 agg).

Ajax upset the odds with a famous 3-2 aggregate win over Juventus after a 2-1 victory in Turin.

Cristiano Ronaldo put Juve 1-0 up (2-1 agg) before Donny Van de Beek levelled the game and the tie on 34 minutes. Matthijs de Ligt put Ajax ahead with a 67th minute strike and the 2-1 (3-2 agg) lead proved to be enough to send them into the last four.
                                                                                   

Liverpool eased into the last four with a 4-1 win at FC Porto to advance 6-1 on aggregate.

Sadio Mane opened the scoring on the night on 26 minutes before Mo Salah doubled the lead on 65 minutes to open up a huge 4-0 lead on aggregate. Porto replied through Eder Militao three minutes later for 2-1 (4-1) before strikes from Roberto Firmino and Virgil Van Dijk wrapped up a comfortable advance into the semis.

An epic seven goal thriller saw Manchester City claim a 4-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. The victory proved not enough to prevent Spurs from advancing on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate.

The sides set a new CL record with five goals inside the first 21 minutes, Raheem Sterling's brace and Bernardo Silva's strike sandwiching a Son Heung-Min brace as City led 3-2 (3-3 agg). Sergio Aguero struck on the hour for 4-2 also giving City a 4-3 aggregate advantage. City's joy was soon dented on 73 minutes by Fernando Llorente's effort which cut the gap to 4-3 but regained Spurs' aggregate advantage on away goals at 4-4. Late drama saw City look to have sealed a place in the last four as Sterling completed his hat-trick but a VAR decision saw the goal ruled out due to offside sending Spurs through on away goals. 

2019 Europa League Quarter Final First Legs Review

The Europa League quarter finals began on the 11th with Arsenal securing a 2-0 lead on aggregate over Napoli.

The Gunners opened the scoring through Aaron Ramsey on 14 minutes before Kalidou Koulibaly gifted them a second with an own goal on 25 minutes.

A six-goal thriller saw Benfica claim a 4-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt. The visitors suffered a double blow with the dismissal of Evan Ndikca and Joao Felix Sequeira slotting in the resulting penalty for 1-0. Luka Jovic levelled before a second for Sequeira made it 2-1.

A Bruno Dias strike extended the lead before Sequeira completed his hat-trick for 4-1. Frankfurt struck a second away goal on 72 minutes as Goncalo Paciencia cut the gap.

Chelsea claimed a narrow 1-0 win away to Slavia Prague which gives them an away goal advantage for the second leg.

The crucial strike came with four minutes left of the 90 as Marcos Alonso struck for the Blues.

An all La Liga tie saw Valencia securing a 3-1 lead over Villarreal in the first leg.

The visitors opened the scoring with an early effort from Goncalo Guedes inside six minutes before Santi Cazorla levelled with a 36th minute penalty. Valencia left it late to claim the win with a second strike from Guedes coupled with a Daniel Wass effort for 3-1.

2019 Champions League Quarter Final First Legs Review

The Champions League Quarter finals began on the ninth with 2018 finalists Liverpool gaining a 2-0 first leg advantage against FC Porto.

The Reds struck an early opener through Naby Keita before a Roberto Firmino strike doubled the lead on 26 minutes. Porto's lack of an away goal could be pivotal to the tie.

An all PL tie saw Tottenham claim a narrow first leg advantage with a 1-0 win over Manchester City.

The crucial strike came on 78 minutes as Son Heung-Min sealed the win for Spurs.

The second half of the stage saw Juventus claim an away goal advantage after drawing 1-1 with Ajax.

The Italians went ahead just before half-time through Cristiano Ronaldo but were pegged back instantly after the restart by a David Neres leveller for 1-1. The score remained level leaving the hosts needing to score in the second leg to avoid an exit.

Barcelona left Manchester United with a tough task for the second leg after claiming a 1-0 away win. The crucial away goal came inside 12 minutes as a cross found United defender Luke Shaw who was unable to prevent an own goal for 1-0.