The FA Cup lived up to its so-called "giant-killing" reputation on Saturday when Chelsea and Manchester City were eliminated at home by lower-league oppositions on a day of fourth-round shocks in the world's oldest knockout competition.
Four of the English Premier League's top six were ousted on a classic FA Cup day, with leader Chelsea squandering a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to third-tier Bradford at Stamford Bridge in the biggest surprise.
"We must feel ashamed, me and the players must feel ashamed," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. "Frustration is not the right word - embarrassed would be more appropriate."
A virtually full-strength Man City lost 2-0 to second-tier Middlesbrough at Etihad Stadium, raising questions about the wisdom of the English champions' decision to travel to Abu Dhabi for a five-day warm-weather training camp in the build-up to the game. They only returned late on Friday and the team faded in the second half.
"An unforgettable day for us," said Patrick Bamford, the scorer of Middlesbrough's first goal who is on loan at the club from Chelsea.
Southampton, who are third in the Premier League, twice surrendered the lead to lose 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace, and Tottenham - sixth in the league - conceded an injury-time winner to lose 2-1 to Leicester. They were both all-Premier League games.
Swansea lost 3-1 at second-tier Blackburn in another fourth-round stunner, with the Welsh team finishing the match with nine men after getting players sent off in the early and late minutes.
The upsets began on Friday when star-studded Manchester United were embarrassingly held 0-0 by fourth-tier Cambridge. Liverpool look to avoid joining the list when it hosts second-tier Bolton later Saturday.
Chelsea's hopes of an unlikely quadruple - Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League - were ended by a team used to stunning the big clubs. Two seasons ago, Bradford beat Arsenal and Aston Villa on the way to the League Cup final, where they lost to Swansea.
Forty-nine places in the English league pyramid separated the teams at kickoff and it showed when Chelsea went 2-0 ahead after 38 minutes through goals by Gary Cahill and Ramires.
However, Bradford pulled a goal back in the 40th and a late rally led to goals in the 75th and 82nd minutes, followed by a clinching fourth in injury time.
In two spells as Chelsea manager, Mourinho had never lost against a lower-division team. It means Chelsea have failed to reach at least the fifth round of the FA Cup for only the second time in 17 seasons.
"It is a disgrace we were knocked out," said Mourinho, who went into Bradford's dressing room after the match to congratulate every visiting player.
City, who are second in the Premier League, needed two late goals to beat Sheffield Wednesday in the third round but didn't escape humiliation against Middlesbrough, who are second in the League Championship.
Bamford put Middlesbrough ahead in the 53rd after a first half dominated by City, whose defensive discipline fell apart after halftime. The visitors hit the post - as did City substitute Frank Lampard - before substitute Kike sealed victory in injury time.
On a day of amazing comebacks, Watford rallied from 2-0 down at halftime to thrash Blackpool 7-2 in a second-tier Championship league match.
Comments
0 comment