Heartbreak for Antonio Conte as hard-fighting Burnley put up impressive performance to beat Tottenham
FootballFA Cup: Crystal Palace Advances to Quarterfinals After Difficult Encounter With Stoke City in London
- Goals from Cheikhou Kouyate and Jairo Riedewald proved the difference as Crystal Palace held on against Stoke City to qualify for the quarterfinals of this year's FA Cup
- The Championship side made a proper fist of the encounter, with Josh Tymon contributing an equaliser as the Potters made the Eagles sweat for the victory
- Palace can now look forward to facing the likes of Manchester City and Middlesbrough having already booked their places in the quarterfinals, and five other spots still open
The Eagles had gone into the match on the back of a disappointing draw against relegation-threatened Burnley in the Premier Soccer League. Meanwhile, Stoke had suffered defeat at the hands of Bournemouth in the second tier of English football.
The sides had to contend with the late winter rain of London in front of an involved crowd. Interestingly, Palace scored with their only two shots on target on the night.
Their manager Patrick Viera said to BBC Radio 5 Live:
"They wanted it more than us. They won a lot of second balls and duels. They competed more than us. At half-time we came back with better attention but when you're not into the game at the start it's hard to get back into it.
"This is something that happens a little bit too often. We need to compete more and start games better. Players need to perform if they want to start games. If you don't play well that gives me an easier decision to make."
Stoke boss Martin O'Neill told the same media organisation:
"The first goal wasn't a corner. We have all the technology to see if it's a goal. Having seen it back, the Palace player's shot doesn't come off James Chester. We felt harshly done by.
"At 1-1 we looked the team more likely to win. Unfortunately we can't defend the corner. It lands to the feet of their lad. It comes through a crowd of bodies and ends in the bottom corner and that's why we're out of the cup."
Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane score brace each as Liverpool thrash Leeds to close gap on Man City
FootballRiyad Mahrez scores as Man City destroy Peterborough to reach FA Cup quarterfinal
Manchester City are through to the last eight of this season's FA Cup after beating Peterborough 2-0 in the 5th round.
As reported on Sports Brief, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish scored the two goals that sent Pep Guardiola and his wards to the quarterfinal.
Pep Guardiola and his players will now want to move far in this competition with aim of lifting the title.