As Football reels from the controversial announcement of a 12 team breakaway, we roundup the best of both semi-finals in 2020-21 FA Cup as two finalists were confirmed.
Manchester City and Chelsea locked horns in a blockbuster semi-final just under 24 hours before their involvement in the new European Super League became public.
Leicester meanwhile looked to reach their first FA Cup Final in 52 years as they took on Southampton, as both teams looked to put themselves closer towards a first FA Cup crown this century.
Now here is a full roundup of both semi-finals in which the winning goals coincidentally came in the same minute across both games.
Chelsea 1-0 Manchester City
Both teams made a nervy start but Chelsea found the early initiative just six minutes in when Timo Werner broke on the counter-attack, teeing up Hakim Ziyech to fire in despite the offside flag going up to disallow the goal.
Gabriel Jesus responded four minutes later for City but Kepa Arrizabalaga saved his curled shot, before Ben Chilwell, Mason Mount and Reece James all saw shots denied as they tried to put Chelsea ahead.
The best chance of the first half came in the final minute when Fernandinho headed a rebound cross from Raheem Sterling wide of the top right corner.
City then went close six minutes into the second half when Jesus’ header from Phil Foden’s cross was saved.
Chelsea soon afterwards cleared a free-kick following Cesar Azpilicueta’s foul on Sterling, with the ball finding Werner who broke up the left and cut back for Ziyech to fire in past a helpless Zack Steffen to score a 55th minute winner.
Ziyech saw a chance to double the West Londoners’ lead just four minutes later after collecting a long ball, only for Steffen to come out and block his shot likewise with Werner’s 77th minute attempt.
Ruben Dias saw a header go wide whilst Sterling blasted over from Jesus’ blocked shot as City valiantly tried to force extra time, although Chelsea ultimately held out to book their place in the final.
Leicester 1-0 Southampton
Leicester dominated the initial exchanges with Jamie Vardy forcing an interception, playing Youri Tielemans forward to cut across for Ayoze Perez who curled his shot wide of the top right corner.
Tielemans returned the favour 29 minutes later as he intercepted Fraser Forster’s goal kick and teed up Vardy who could only chip over the bar.
Tielemans was also involved in another chance just eight minutes later as he found Timothy Castagne, who raced up the right only for his pass to Vardy to be cleared for a corner from which Wilfred Ndidi headed over the bar.
Iheanacho eventually broke the deadlock in the 55th minute as Vardy charged up the left and cut back for the Nigerian strike to fire in on the rebound, having seen his first effort blocked.
Ibrahima Diallo then saw two chances go begging for Southampton in three minutes, before James Maddison had the same misfortune for Leicester who eventually clung on for their first FA Cup Final since 1969 as they meet Chelsea on 15 May.
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