Extra time and the second youth of Zhirkov
In addition to the Spartak-CSKA derby, two more matches were to be held on Wednesday in the Russian Cup, but the quarterfinal game between Shinnik and Ural was postponed due to the unavailability of the pitch at the stadium in Yaroslavl. The meeting between Akhmat and Zenit in Grozny was overshadowed by scandal.
During the match, fans from St. Petersburg decided to strip to the waist as usual, which provoked indignation among local football fans who tried to get into the guests sector. Fortunately, the conflict was prevented by the security service. At the same time, even footballers had to reassure fans of Grozny.
The game itself also turned out to be emotional. The champion of the country, in whose composition due to health problems there was not a single nominal striker, had the advantage and created the moments, but after the break missed from the penalty spot.
As a result, the team was saved by 36-year-old Yuri Zhirkov. 15 minutes after the substitution, the veteran gave the assist to Emiliano Rigoni, and in extra time he put an end to the match with a sharp blow from the free kick line.
Goalkeeper blunders and two injuries
In the 1/8 finals of the FA Cup, the Liverpool relegation attracted attention first of all. Merseysiders, who confidently go to the first championship in 30 years in the national championship, suffered a second defeat in four days and a third in the last four matches in all tournaments.
On Saturday, Jurgen Klopp's wards lost for the first time this season in the Premier League, allowing themselves to be defeated by the outsider of the Watford tournament, and on Tuesday lost to Chelsea in the Cup.
On the one hand, fans of the Reds can justify them by the fact that the team played as a reserve team, on the other hand, Liverpool showed a nondescript football. In addition, the guests were brought in by goalkeeper Adrian, who had already missed the ball between his hands in the opening of the meeting after a simple hit by Willian. In the second half, the home side doubled Ross Barkley. The only fly in the ointment for Londoners was the trauma of Willian and Mateo Kovacic.
Dyer's assault on a fan and a penalty shootout
Unexpectedly ended the performance in the FA Cup and Tottenham Hotspur, in the penalty shootout lost to the Norwich fighting for survival in the Premier League. Moreover, the team of Jose Mourinho came forward already in the 13th minute thanks to an accurate shot by Jan Vertongen, but shortly before the end of the regular time he missed the return ball. As a result, everything was decided in the penalty shootout, in which the guests were stronger.
In addition, after the match, midfielder Eric Dyer almost attacked the fan, who, according to the player, insulted his younger brother during the game. The stewards saved the fan from reprisal.
Eric Dier just came into the stand and had a fight with fan next to me 😱 pic.twitter.com/nMGVcDWegX
- Jascha Selby (@ jselby123) March 4, 2020But Manchester City and Arsenal managed to break into the quarterfinals of the tournament, although they also experienced problems. The reigning England champion beat the Sheffield Wensday Championship champion with a minimum score. The Gunners away broke the resistance of Portsmouth, who is currently playing in the country's third most powerful league, but were left without injured Lucas Toreira. Uruguayan after a hard tackle of an opponent at the very beginning of the meeting was taken from the field on a stretcher.
Miracle in Germany and the incredible "lottery"
The main sensation of the week was the release of “Saarbrücken” in the semifinal of the German Cup. The team representing the fourth strongest division defeated the Fortuna from the Bundesliga. For the first time in the history of the tournament, a team from a regional league climbed so far.
At the same time, everything was decided only in a penalty shootout, which fans will remember for a long time. The fact is that in order to identify the winner, the opponents had to break through ten hits. And the main hero of this match was Saarbrücken's goalkeeper Daniel Batz.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper repelled four shots from the “point” in the penalty shoot-out and another one shortly before the end of the regular time, which ended in a draw - 1: 1. In the semifinals, Bayern, Eintracht or Bayer will try to stop the upstart. What will be the composition of the semifinal pairs is still unknown.
Daniel Batz. The man. The myth. The legend.
5 (FIVE) penalties saved in one cup tie. You've never seen the like 🐐 # FCSF95pic.twitter.com / wI6KsIQeR2
Defeat and hat-trick Mbappe
In France, a ticket to the final of the Cup of the country calmly won PSG. Parisians on the road left no chance for Lyon. Guests were not even embarrassed by the quick ball of Martin Terrier. Kilian Mbappe instantly answered him with his exact blow. Subsequently, the striker scored twice more and scored a hat-trick. The final score is 5: 1 in favor of the team of Thomas Tuchel. Now the team from the second attempt will try to win the trophy, because last year PSG in the decisive match unexpectedly lost to Rennes in the penalty shootout.
First final in 33 years
And the first finalist of the Spanish Cup was Real Sociedad. San Sebastians won the second consecutive victory over the “Mirandes” from Segunda - 1: 0. The team got a chance for the first time in 33 years and for the third time in history to take the prestigious trophy. The rival of Real Sociedad will be the winner of the Athletic (Bilbao) - Granada pair.