/ 20 March 2007

Chelsea, United reach FA Cup semifinals

Chelsea won 2-1 at Tottenham and Manchester United edged Middlesbrough 1-0 on Monday to reach the FA Cup semifinals.

Second-half goals by Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips put Chelsea ahead in a quarterfinal replay at White Hart Lane before Robbie Keane replied for Spurs from the penalty spot.

Trouble erupted near the end of both games, however.

A Spurs fan ran on to the field toward the celebrating Chelsea players while United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz was pulled away from the Middlesbrough coaches, who had accused Ronaldo of diving to get the penalty in their quarterfinal replay.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored United’s winner at Old Trafford, converting a penalty after he had been fouled by Jonathan Woodgate.

In the semifinals, United, who have won a record 12 FA Cup titles, will face Watford, who are last in the Premier League, while Chelsea meet Blackburn. The semifinals will be played over the weekend April 14 to 15.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack had two early chances at White Hart Lane, one shot flashing just wide of the post and the other saved by goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech blocked a firm shot from Pascal Chimbonda in the 49th minute after the Blues failed to clear a corner.

With Spurs appearing to take control, Chelsea scored in the 54th minute.

There seemed no real danger when Shevchenko chased a ball from Shaun Wright-Phillips down the right. But he turned inside Steed Malbranque and then curled a rising, angled, left-footed shot that swung inside the far post.

It was 2-0 seven minutes later when Chelsea put together a patient move from the back before Ashley Cole drove a long pass forward. Didier Drogba chested the ball towards Wright-Phillips, who drove a low, left-footed 20m shot past Robinson into the far corner.

Spurs got back into the game when Ricardo Carvalho brought down Dimitar Berbatov in the 79th minute and Robbie Keane scored from the penalty spot.

A small group of celebrating Spurs fans ran on to the field but were quickly stopped and cleared.

Woodgate rescued Middlesbrough in the first half against Manchester United at Old Trafford. His vital interception in his own area thwarted a chance after Ronaldo expertly controlled the ball and tried to find Alan Smith in front of goal.

Ryan Giggs put Wayne Rooney clear in the 42nd but Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer raced off his line to grab the ball at his feet as the striker tried to go round him.

Stuart Downing wasted a chance for Boro early in the second half when Mark Viduka beat United defender Nemanja Vidic and set up the winger, who fired over the bar from close range.

Rooney had another chance when he got clear of the Boro defence, but Schwarzer denied him again before the goal came in the 76th minute.

Woodgate pushed Ronaldo over as the Portuguese striker broke into the area and the winger fired the penalty powerfully past Schwarzer.

Boro finished with 10 men when James Morrison was shown the red card in the final minute for bringing down Ronaldo. — Sapa-AP