Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea all secured big victories in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, while Premier League side Brentford suffered a surprising defeat to lower-league team Plymouth. The 8-0 rout of Salford by Manchester City was especially significant as it was a blow to the dreams of Salford's former Manchester United star owners. Despite the presence of club legends Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Nicky Butt at the Etihad, Salford were unable to compete with City's wholesale changes and suffered a devastating loss.
Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea Secure Impressive FA Cup Victories
The third round of the 2022-23 FA Cup kicked off on Saturday, with several Premier League giants making their debuts in the competition. Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea all secured convincing victories, while Brentford suffered an unexpected setback.
Manchester City's Dominating Performance
Manchester City underlined their status as FA Cup favorites with an emphatic 8-0 win over EFL League Two side Salford City. The victory was particularly poignant as Salford is co-owned by former Manchester United legends Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, and Nicky Butt.
Despite the presence of their illustrious owners, Salford were outmatched by a City side that made wholesale changes to their lineup. Goals from Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden, and Riyad Mahrez led the City rampage, leaving Salford's hopes of a cup upset in ruins.
Liverpool and Chelsea Advance Comfortably
Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Anfield, with goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah sealing the win. Wolves were a threat throughout the match but lacked the cutting edge to challenge Liverpool's defense.
Chelsea also enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win, dispatching Port Vale at home. Goals from Mason Mount and Kai Havertz were enough to secure the victory, although Port Vale showed plenty of spirit and resilience during the match.
Brentford's Surprising Defeat
In the biggest upset of the round, Brentford suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to League One side Plymouth Argyle. Plymouth took the lead twice through Sam Cosgrove and Niall Ennis, with Yoane Wissa pulling a goal back for Brentford in the second half.
The defeat was a major disappointment for Brentford, who had hoped to make a deep run in the FA Cup after reaching the semi-finals last season.
Top 5 FAQs Related to the FA Cup
1. What is the FA Cup?
The FA Cup is the world's oldest football knockout competition, organized by the Football Association (FA). It is open to all football clubs in England, regardless of their league status.
2. How does the FA Cup work?
The FA Cup is a single-elimination tournament, meaning that teams are knocked out after a single defeat. The competition begins with preliminary rounds in August, and the third round proper takes place in January. The final is played at Wembley Stadium in May.
3. Who has won the most FA Cups?
Arsenal is the most successful club in FA Cup history, with 14 titles. Manchester United is second with 12 titles, and Chelsea is third with 8 titles.
4. What are some of the most famous FA Cup matches?
Some of the most famous FA Cup matches include the 1953 "Stanley Matthews Final" between Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers, and the 1989 "Hillsborough Disaster" semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
5. Can teams from outside of England enter the FA Cup?
Teams from outside of England are not eligible to enter the FA Cup. However, teams from Wales can enter the Welsh Cup, which is affiliated with the FA Cup.
Belarusian top seed Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her quest for a third consecutive Australian Open title with a dominant win against Sloane Stephens. She aims to join a select group of women to complete a three-peat at Melbourne Park. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen also secured a first round victory, while Alexander Zverev will face a tough challenge from Lucas Pouille in his opening match. Despite a wobbly first set, Sabalenka managed to close out the match in two sets against Stephens.
Baroda successfully defended 149 runs to defeat Harbhajan Singh's Punjab and lift the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in a thrilling final. Aditya Waghmode, who had played the anchor in the semi-final against Delhi, was dismissed early by VRV Singh while key players like Kedar Devdhar and Ambati Rayudu were also sent back cheaply. However, brothers Yusuf and Irfan Pathan steadied the innings with a 49-run partnership, before an unbeaten 36 from Irfan helped Baroda reach a competitive total. In response, Punjab fell short by seven runs despite a valiant effort, giving Baroda their first T20 trophy.
Tottenham Hotspur will take on Tamworth in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, with our correspondent Alasdair Gold providing live updates from the game in Staffordshire. After a morale-boosting win against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, Spurs must maintain their positive momentum against the non-league team. With a long list of unavailable players, manager Postecoglou may mix up his selection with some regular starters and young players. Despite the challenges of cancelled trains and freezing temperatures, Tottenham fans have braved the conditions to support their team in the FA Cup.
Jemimah Rodrigues shines with a century as India Women's Cricket Team sets a record-breaking total of 370/5 in the second ODI against Ireland. Harleen Deol and Smriti Mandhana also contribute with half-centuries, while Priya Mishra's economical bowling restricts Ireland to 56/1 in the 14th over.
Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori fought back from the brink of defeat, saving two match points in a thrilling five-set match against Brazilian Thiago Monteiro at the Australian Open. The 35-year-old has been on the comeback trail after major injuries and surgeries, and his resilience was on display as he battled for over four hours to secure the win. This victory marks a significant moment in his return to top form, and with his recent success at the Hong Kong Open, he is proving to be a force to be reckoned with on the court once again.
Liverpool dominated League Two team Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third-round tie with a 4-0 win. Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold scored in the first half and Jayden Danns and Federico Chiesa added two more goals in the second half. Liverpool's attacking style and quick counter-attacks proved to be too much for Accrington to handle.
England international Trent Alexander-Arnold proved his critics wrong by scoring a brilliant goal to secure Liverpool's spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup with a commanding 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley. With captain Virgil van Dijk absent, Alexander-Arnold stepped up to take on the leadership role and led by example. Manager Arne Slot's decision to make eight changes paid off as the Reds cruised to victory against the lower league side, despite Stanley's early resilience. Federico Chiesa also made his mark by scoring his first goal for Liverpool.
The highly anticipated 3rd edition of the International League T20 will begin with a thrilling match between defending champions MI Emirates and David Warner-led Dubai Capitals. The tournament will last for a month with six teams playing each other twice in the group stages. Indian cricket fans can catch the action on ZEE Network, while live streaming will be available on Fancode.
Manchester City secured a comfortable 8-0 win over Salford City in the third round of the FA Cup, led by a hat-trick from James McAtee. Fellow youngsters Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, Nico O'Reilly, and Divin Mubama also contributed to the scoring, while former Manchester United players Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs could only watch in disappointment. The big win gives City a spot in the fourth round and continues their successful season.