FA Cup: Chelsea have no problem with Middlesborough

Chelsea injuries and suspensions

Middlesbrough injuries and suspensions

Better was to come, but it would take until the second half to do so. Just after the hour mark, Valencia was able to find Nani in the box as the Reading defence went missing, and the winger dispatched his effort past Federici to give United a vital lead.

Although the visitors responded well, with Adam le Fondre forcing de Gea into a superb stop after a twisting snapshot, Chicharito would double United’s tally mere minutes thereafter. This time, Nani turned provider, whipping in a cross from the right with the Mexican got a head to, leaving Federici with no chance.

The winners of the quarterfinal ties will advance to play at Wembley Stadium, which kind of takes away from the magic of the ‘we’re going to Wembley’ thing. Obviously Wembley Stadium cost a whole crap-ton of money and games need to be played there to offset the cost, but semifinals at the venue of the final are just horrible.

Draw

Both sides had chances in the second half, but it was the hosts who ended on top -- Jagielka had to save the Toffees with an vital block as time wound down and then Howard kept out Barnard on a one on one seconds later. It looked as through Everton were going to survive Oldham’s late siege, but then, in the fifth minute of injury time, Matt Smith produced a miracle.

The hosts had won a series of corner kicks in the dying seconds, and Bouzanis was thrown into the fray as they scrambled for the equaliser. But it was Smith, on as a substitute, who rose above the defence to head past Howard, ensuring the match finished 2-2 and earning a replay at Goodison Park -- if you don’t think it was a handball from Bouzanis, at any rate.

The match got off to a fast start, with chances coming at both ends. Andre Gray had an effort almost immediately from range, before Rob Hulse eluded some poor marking from the hosts but drilled his shot wide, as both teams sent out warning shots.

Luton had another opportunity to take the lead through Gray as his trickery gave him some space for another effort, but a smart save allowed Millwall to mount an attack, and a terrible mistake from Janos Kovacs let the visitors in. The defender miscontrolled an easy ball, allowing James Henry through on goal, and the striker made no mistake, rounding the keeper to put Millwall into an early lead.

Schedule (all times ET)