Updated at 16.58
IRISH DUO Evan Ferguson and Sam Szmodics were on target in the FA Cup quarter-finals today, though there were mixed fortunes for their respective sides.
Teenager Ferguson bagged two goals as Brighton comfortably beat League Two outfit Grimsby 5-0.
The impressive Irish international scored his side’s second and third goals before being replaced by Danny Welbeck with their passage into the next round effectively secured at 3-0.
That is sublime.
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
Rising star, @Evan_Ferguson9, showcases his talent once again ⭐️#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/VE7ajpvthA
Fourth-tier Grimsby had made history on their way to the quarter-finals by beating five sides from higher divisions.
The visitors were cheered on by thousands of fans brandishing inflatable haddock, a nod to Grimsby’s history as one of the world’s biggest fishing ports.
But Paul Hirst’s men were caught out by the class of an in-form Brighton, who are eyeing the club’s first-ever major trophy.
The floodgates threatened to open when Deniz Undav opened the scoring for the Seagulls after just six minutes.
Grimsby held out bravely to limit the damage before half-time, but ran out of steam in the second half.
Ferguson registered a brace and had another strike ruled out by VAR check for offside.
Brighton’s free-scoring wingers Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma then rubbed salt into Grimsby wounds by scoring in the final 10 minutes.
Sheffield United twice came from behind to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals as Tommy Doyle’s stoppage winner earned a 3-2 win over Blackburn on Sunday.
The Blades lead Blackburn by nine points in the battle to secure an automatic promotion place to the Premier League next season.
18 year old, Evan Ferguson raps it up for @OfficialBHAFC with his second goal. I see a real centre forward before my eyes. 👏🏻
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) March 19, 2023
But it was Rovers who won the previous meeting between the sides two weeks ago and the visitors twice led at Bramall Lane.
Ben Brereton Diaz slotted home from the penalty spot after Sam Gallagher’s shot hit the outstretched arm of Jack Robinson.
It's that man again 🔥@Evan_Ferguson9 knows where the net is 🤩#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/PjyIG4EWbE
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
The lead was short-lived as Gallagher deflected Max Lowe’s long range effort into his own goal on 27 minutes.
Irish midfielder Szmodics restored Blackburn’s lead with a cool finish on the hour mark.
Sheffield United would have been dumped out by non-league Wrexham but for some late drama in the fourth round.
And they produced more heroics at the death to book a trip to Wembley.
Oli McBurnie fired in from a narrow angle nine minutes from time.
Doyle then took centre stage with a blistering strike in the 91st minute.
SUPER SAMMIE STRIKES AGAIN 🤩@SamSzmodics with another crucial FA Cup goal for @Rovers!#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/yBQvEktRT9
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
The Manchester City loanee controlled Sander Berge’s pass before unleashing a thunderbolt into the top corner.
Sheffield United join City in the last four after Pep Guardiola’s men smashed Championship leaders Burnley 6-0 on Saturday.
OH MY WORD 🤯@Tommy_Doyle8 with a last-minute stunner for @SheffieldUnited 💥#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/lum5BWgdyJ
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) March 19, 2023
Erling Haaland scored his sixth hat-trick of the season and second in five days as City remained in the hunt for a treble of trophies.
The draw for the semis was also made — Sheffield United face a Wembley date with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals next month.
Brighton will face the winners of Sunday evening’s quarter-final between Manchester United and Fulham.
The games will be played on the weekend of 22 and 23 April.
Meanwhile, there was bad news for Stephen Kenny elsewhere, as Adam Idah is set to miss Ireland’s upcoming games against Latvia (22 March) and France (27 March).
Boss David Wagner gave an update on the 22-year-old striker, whose setback came in a previous match against Huddersfield.
“He has a foot injury. He will be out for a few weeks. How many exactly we can’t say at the minute.
“It doesn’t look like a break, but we maybe have to have further investigations or assessments. I would say the worst scenario looks like it hasn’t happened, but we have to see how everything else progresses, and how the assessment and the treatment will work.
“Obviously there was no chance for him to be in the squad today, his foot is still swollen so we had to wait to see what it looks like in the next weeks.”
More to follow
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
