IN ENGLAND
A goal that feels good for Lukaku
On Wednesday night, Chelsea won away to Luton, 2-3, in the round of 16 of the FA Cup. Thanks to a goal from Romelu Lukaku at the end of the game, the Blues reach the next round after being led twice by the 6th in the Championship (D2). Chelsea were surprised from the start by the opener of Burke (2nd). Saul Niguez tied the teams shortly before the half-hour (27th), but Cormick restored Luton’s lead before the break (40th). A new equalizer came from the feet of Werner (68th), before Romelu Lukaku shattered the hopes of the residents of Championship by scoring the winning goal in the last quarter of an hour (78th). In the right place at the right time, he concluded a collective action, well served by Werner at the gates of the opposing goal. The Belgian striker then remained on the pitch until the final whistle.
Divock Origi assists
Liverpool qualified for the FA Cup quarter-finals by beating Norwich 2-1. Holder, Divock Origi participated in the celebration by distilling a decisive pass to Minamino for the opener (27th).
Found in the box, he shrewdly slipped the ball past his better-positioned team-mate who only had to finish the job to give the Reds the lead. The Japanese doubled the bet before the break (39th), and Rupp scored the goal of hope for Norwich in the last quarter of an hour (76th), without however managing to bring his people up to Liverpool. Divock Origi was then replaced by Sadio Mané in the 84th minute.
IN FRANCE
AS Monaco of Philippe Clement and Eliot Matazo fails in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France
In a supercharged Stade de la Beaujoire, FC Nantes pocketed their ticket to the final of the Coupe de France against AS Monaco of Philippe Clement. The teams needed a penalty shootout to decide after a draw in regulation time (2-2, 4-2 on pens) Maripan opened the scoring for the Monegasques (12th), but Djibril Sidibé in spite of himself, the teams were tied by scoring against his camp (21st). The Canaries thought they had done the hardest part by taking the lead via Moutoussamy (74th), but Boadu immediately replied in favor of the visitors (76th). Tied after regulation time, the two teams headed to the penalty shootout. This quickly turned to the advantage of FC Nantes after the failures of Ben Yedder and Tchouaméni, ending with a victorious kick from the former Gantois Moses Simon (4-2 on penalties). Eliot Matazo, who entered the game in the 86th minute, did not have the opportunity to kick a shot on goal.
FC Nantes thus joins OGC Nice, scorer (2-0) of Versailles, Tuesday, in the final of the Coupe de France.
IN TURKEY
Besiktas and Michy Batshuayi fail in Turkish Cup quarter-finals
Besiktas lost 1-2 on Wednesday in the Turkish Cup quarter-final against Kayserispor. Michy Batshuayi’s club, which was the holder, is therefore eliminated from the competition. Mario Gavranovic quickly put Kayserispor in charge (6th), but Valentin Rosier allowed Beskitas to return to the locker room tied (43rd). Miguel Cardoso nevertheless scored the winning goal for the visitors (65th). Michy Batshuayi played the entire match for the Black Eagles.
Earlier in the evening, Trabzonspor and Sivasspor also bagged their ticket to the semi-finals.
IN THE NETHERLANDS
PSV victory
In the semi-final of the Dutch Cup, PSV won against the Go Ahead Eagles, 1-2. The hosts, who fell to Ajax in the league on Sunday, took control thanks to a goal from Cordoba (36th), but saw the situation turn around following the equalizer of Zahavi (43rd) and the exclusion from Kramer (45th + 2). In numerical superiority, PSV snatched their ticket for the final with a goal from Veerman (68th). Philippe Rommens, goalscorer against Ajax, started for the Eagles, but was substituted in the 68th minute. On the PSV side, Johan Bakayoko, Yorbe Vertessen and goalkeeper Maxime Delanghe remained on the bench.
PSV will face the winner of the meeting between AZ and Ajax on Thursday.
AU QATAR
Al-Duhail and Toby Alderweireld inflict a big defeat on Umm-Salal
On Wednesday, Al-Duhail won a big victory (6-1) against Umm-Salal, as part of the 21st day of the Qatar championship. Toby Alderweireld started for Al-Duhail, which thus strengthens his 2nd place in the standings. Olunga opened the scoring in favor of the hosts from the start, on a serve from former Standardman Junior Edmilson (12th). Sultan Al-Brake doubled the bet before the break (45th), before Edmilson went there with his own goal (48th) and offered a second assist to Abdelrahman Fahmi (51st). The latter scored another goal (77th) while Al Bakhit saved the honor of the visitors (83rd) just before the last stab inflicted by Al Abdulla (86th).
Al-Duhail is now 9 points behind leaders Al-Sadd, and is also 9 points ahead of their closest pursuer, Al-Wakra.
IN AUSTRIA
RB Salzburg drew 0-0 against LASK Linz on Matchday 21 of the Austrian Bundesliga. Former Bruges player Ignace Van der Brempt, who arrived in Salzburg this winter, came on in the 23rd minute in place of injured Oumar Solet.
Salzburg (52 points) maintains a substantial lead in the standings since the closest pursuer, Sturm Graz, is 16 points behind the leaders.
