The fifth round of the FA Cup provided the usual dose of drama, with some big results from smaller teams.
Sunderland defeated Arsenal at home thanks to a goal from Kieran Richardson in the first half and an own goal by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with just twelve minutes remaining, slamming the door shut on Arsenal's last chance at a trophy this season.
League One Stevenage, lead by new manager Gary Smith (formerly of the 2010 MLS Cup Champions Colorado Rapids), somehow held Tottenham to a nil draw at home. This is an amazing result for the aspiring club, who will get to play at White Hart Lane March 7 in the rematch. Stevenage are clinging to the last promotion playoff spot, hoping to secure a third successful advance up the ranks.
Birmingham City matched Chelsea to force a replay March 6. Juan Mata had his penalty saved by Colin Doyle in the 23', already behind when David Murphy scored from a corner three minutes prior. Daniel Sturridge leveled the sides, heading in a cross from Branislav Ivanovic just after the hour.
Leicester City defeated Norwich City 1-2 on the back of an early goal from a corner by Sean St. Ledger at five minutes and the winner twenty minutes from time by David Nugent. Norwich's goal came after Leicester keeper Kaspar Schmeichel crashed into Elliot Bennett and ceded a penalty. Schmeichel saved the shot, but the rebound fell straight back to captain Wesley Hoolahan who put his second attempt into the net.
In what was supposed to be Landon Donovan's farewell match, but wasn't due to influenza, Everton put two past Blackpool and advance into the final eight. Royston Drenthe hit a shot in the fallout of a free kick conceded in a dangerous position, and put Everton up in the first minute. Drenthe turned provider with a corner kick that Denis Stracqualursi succeeded in directing into the net just five minutes later. Up two in six, the home side dominated the rest of the game, conceding only a meaningless penalty in stoppage time when John Heitinga fouled Roman Bednar in the box.
Bolton Wanderers defeated Championship side Millwall in former New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream's debut. 19 year old Ryo Miyaichi collected a pass from a Sam Ricketts free kick and put it past Steve Mildenhall to put the visitors ahead in just five minutes. The game remained competitive until David Ngog powered his shot from outside the box into the net.
Fairy tale makers Crawley Town failed to make it past the fifth round in their second consecutive cinderella run, this time falling to Stoke City at home (last year they went to Old Trafford in their loss to Manchester United). The League Two side is comfortably in the promotion playoff zone and can realistically compete for the guaranteed spot, following in Stevenage's promotion footsteps one year behind. The result hurts as they managed seven shots on goal to Stoke's one, earned eleven corners to two, and managed superior possession as well, but Jonathan Walters put the Premier League side up through a penalty just before the break. Peter Crouch used his head to redirect a Glenn Whelan cross into the net, the only on target shot of the game for Stoke.
And in the least interested matchup of the round, for me personally, Liverpool beat Brighton 6-1, thanks to three own goals. Martin Skrtel put the home side up early, while Zazenga LuaLua leveled not long after. It looked to go tied up at the half until Liam Bridcutt put it into his own net. Andy Carroll scored just before the hour, Bridcutt again put it in for the other team. Lewis Dunk did the same just three minutes later when he failed to wrap up a Luis Suarez cross, bumbling it over the line. Suarez then took a penalty very poorly, allowing keeper Peter Brezovan an easy save, but then redeemed himself four minutes later with a goal from open play.
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