Goalkeeper Tim Howard saved two penalties against his former club to inspire Everton to a 4-2 shootout win over Manchester United on Sunday which sent them into the FA Cup final for the first time since 1995.

Howard saved United’s first two spot-kicks from Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand ater a turgid semi-final ended 0-0 after extra time at Wembley Stadium.

Everton will return to Wembley for the final on May 30 against Chelsea, who beat Arsenal 2-1 in Saturday’s first semi-final.

Everton defender Phil Jagielka scored the winning penalty, blasting the ball past goalkeeper Ben Foster to inflict United’s first defeat in an FA Cup semi-final since 1970.

United manager Alex Ferguson gambled by playing a largely reserve side and defeat ended the European champions’ hopes of winning an unprecedented five major trophies this season.

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“It was a tough game for us. Man United, whoever they play, they could put out their under-14’s and it would have been a tough game because they play to win every competition that they are in,” Everton manager David Moyes said in a televised interview.

“I thought we kept at it, I thought we could have played better at times but Man United made it difficult for us.”

The match itself was largely devoid of inspiration with neither team gaining control and play largely meandering around the midfield.

Everton had half a chance when Foster dallied too long on a loose ball and almost lost it to former United striker Louis Saha whose attempt at goal slammed into the goalkeeper’s chest.

United threatened after 23 minutes when Everton defender Joleon Lescott deflected a shot just wide of his own goal.

United’s unfamiliar line-up largely spluttered on the stodgy Wembley pitch and twice good moves down the right ended in disappointment when young striker Danny Welbeck failed to deliver a decent cross.

It was not until the 54th minute when Everton midfielder Tim Cahill had a shot on target that either goalkeeper was forced into a genuine save, and even then Foster was hardly troubled by the Australian’s long-range shot.

Carlos Tevez and Park ji-Sung never stopped working for United in midfield but Federico Macheda, the 17-year-old Italian who has scored two vital late goals as A substitute in recent league matches, was virtually anonymous on his full debut.

United appealed furiously for a penalty after 68 minutes when Welbeck appeared to be clattered by defender Jagielka and Ferguson was enraged when referee Mike Riley ruled there had been no infringement.

In the shootout, Cahill blasted Everton’s first penalty over the bar but Howard saved Berbatov’s lazy effort and Everton went ahead when Leighton Baines scored. Howard saved from Ferdinand and former United defender Phil Neville made it 2-0 to Everton.

Nemanja Vidic and Anderson both found the net for United but James Vaughan and Jagielka held their nerve to clinch victory for Everton.

Federico Macheda scored the game winner as Manchester United got a 2-1 win at Sunderlund on Saturday. The win kept Manchester United one point clear of Liverpool at the top of the standings with a game in hand. Manchester United’s win came with Ben Foster filling in for Edwin van der Sar and with Cristiano Ronaldo resting for much of the match. Ronaldo did come into the match at the 69th minute but it was Macheda’s arrival as a 75th-minute replacement that turned the tide for United.

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Liverpool crushed Blackburn 4-0 to keep pace with Manchester United and they did so without Steven Gerrard who was rested. Fernando Torres scored twice for Liverpool in the 4-0 win. Third-place Chelsea beat Bolton 4-3 to stay within four points of Manchester United.

In the race for fifth place in the Soccer Betting Premier League it was Aston Villa getting a 3-3 draw with Everton as Gareth Barry scored on a penalty in the 66yh minute. “It was a harsh decision,” Everton manager David Moyes said. “I thought it might have been an indirect free kick because all Joleon has done is put his foot up to try and get the ball.” Everton is nine points ahead of Fulham in sixth place but had a chance to move ahead of Aston Villa with a win. Villa was able to get a point but has not won in more than two months. Villa now is eight points back of Arsenal for the last Champions League spot. “Are we out of the Soccer Betting Champions League? I would not disagree. I think either of us had to win (Sunday) to keep in touch. It is a result that suits Arsenal,” Villa manager Martin O’Neill said. “With Arsenal winning yesterday it will now be very hard but we shouldn’t just give up the fight like that. Arsenal have some very tough games ahead.”

In other Premier League action, Manchester City put Robinho on the bench to start the match against Fulham. Robinho has played very poorly of late and perhaps the benching will send a message. He came into the game in the 64th minute as a substitution but did threaten. “We kept fighting and we got the result we needed and now we are on 43 points,” Fulham’s Clint Dempsey said. “It’s great to get back-to-back away wins because it’s something we haven’t been doing. Hopefully we can continue that form and have a strong end to the season and see where we get in the table.”

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The win by Arsenal against AS Roma was very exciting as Arsenal won 7-6 on penalty kicks after the teams tied 1-1 on aggregate. “We needed to show our nerve tonight and determination,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said, “We were a bit nervous at the start and gave a goal away more by nerves than them creating the chance. I must pay tribute to the nerves of my team. There is something in there that comes out, that is huge mental strength. Our character has been questioned many times. I’ve said many times that this team is very strong.” Arsenal got the win after Roma’s Max Tonetto sent his penalty shot high. “I’m sorry for all these fans that supported us nonstop for two hours,” Tonetto said. “My teammates tried to console me, but it hasn’t helped much.” Francesco Totti, Roma’s captain took the loss very hard. “It would have been better to lose 3-0, this feels like getting knifed,” Totti said. “When am I going to get another chance like this?”

At Old Trafford, Manchester United was able to hold off Inter Milan to advance as Cristiano Ronaldo scored. “It was one of those long European nights where you don’t know if you’re watching a game of football or watching a game of suicide,” United manager Alex Ferguson said, “After scoring the first goal, I thought we would go on and kill them. But after going ahead we started trying to put icing on the cake and we were lucky to be in front at half-time.” Manchester United is trying to become the first team ever to win five trophies in a season. They have already won the League Cup, World Club Cup and they are in good shape in the Premier League. That would leave just the Soccer Betting Champions League and FA Cup.

The other two Premier League teams to advance were Liverpool who completely dominated Real Madrid and Chelsea who was able to get past Juventus. The other four teams that made it into the Champions League quarterfinals were Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Porto and Barcelona. There are no Italian teams in the quarterfinals for the first time in seven years.

The quarterfinal final draw will be held on Friday, March 20th with the matches to be played early next month.

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The FA Cup is the competition that worries Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson the most. “It would be great to think we could do it,” said Ferguson, “but my experience says we could go to Fulham, get a deflected shot off someone’s backside and we’re out.”

Fulham has been playing well of late, despite a 1-0 loss to Hull on Wednesday. “The team will now need lifting for United,” Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said. “There’s no worse way to lose a game than to play well, stare at a 0-0 draw when you think we should have scored and then to lose in the 92nd minute.” United should have an interesting lineup on Saturday since they will probably rest some players for next week’s critical Soccer Betting Champions League match against Inter Milan. United also has a key game in the Premier League next weekend with third place Liverpool.

Chelsea is definitely focused on their match Saturday with Coventry and they might get some players back from injury. Manager Guus Hiddink hopes that midfielder Michael Essien, defender Ricardo Carvalho and striker Nicolas Anelka are able to play.

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Sunday’s quarterfinal match in the FA Cup has Everton hosting Middlesbrough, while Arsenal hosts Burnley in a rescheduled fifth-round match. The winner of Arsenal-Burnley will move into the quarterfinals and face Hull City. Arsenal is expected to get Theo Walcott and Eduardo da Silva back on Sunday and they are favored to dispatch of Burnley. “I will see how they look tomorrow and Saturday but they will certainly be in the squad, especially Theo,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “We have to wait and see how Eduardo reacts and responds to his injury.”

Everton is favored in their match against Middlesbrough even though forward Victor Anichebe is out with an injury.

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Liverpool had a 1-0 lead against Wigan but took a late penalty and ended up with a draw. Benitez took out Torres and Gerrard and sent in striker Robbie Keane who is not known for his defense. “I am disappointed with a number of things,” Benitez said. “It has happened in the last three games (including two 1-1 draws with Everton). They have something in common I don’t like. I know why but I cannot say anything.”

The game against Chelsea on Sunday is now a critical one for Benitez and for Liverpool. “When you are top of the table you know that every single game is really important so when you lose two points you have to be disappointed,” Benitez said. “But we have an important game on Sunday and, if we play like we played in the first half, we can beat anyone. All the games will be important until the end of the season. It depends on the other teams too but we have to try to play well and try to win.”

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Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun has said Sunday’s game against Chelsea is a must-win game. “We are very disappointed and expect to win these games, and we have to start winning games soon – that needs to start on Sunday with a very important game against Chelsea.” Benayoun said, “Every game is important. We have to take three points against Chelsea just like we should have won against Wigan. It’s important to take each game as it comes and Chelsea is the next game at home, so we have to concentrate and do our best against them. I’m sure that we will turn things around and start winning games soon – that is something we have to do.”

Liverpool trails Manchester United by two points in the Premier League standings and United has a game in hand. Liverpool is also now tied with Chelsea for second place but the Blues have the goal differential edge.

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Manchester United will be favored against Tottenham even though the Spurs are the defending champs. “It’s good to reach another final,” United manager Alex Ferguson said, “Our record in going to finals at Wembley is terrific.” If United is able to win the League Cup it would be their third in the competition. United will be making their seventh appearance in the final and their first since winning it in 2006.

The win by Manchester United over Derby did not come without some difficulty. A number of players were injured and that could hurt United in the Premier League. “There are probably six or seven of them who have picked up injuries,” Ferguson said. “We finished with 10 men but it was effectively nine because Jonny was in great discomfort. We will just have to see what happens now.” Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, John O’Shea and Carlos Tevez scored goals for United in the win over Derby. It was an important win for United considering they lost the first leg to Derby by a score of 1-0. “The first goal knocked the stuffing out of us,” Derby coach Nigel Clough said, “Thirty yards in the top corner. You can’t do much about those.”

Tottenham lost their second leg against Burnley 3-2 but thanks to their 4-1 first leg victory they were able to win. They nearly collapsed though as they trailed 3-0 before getting two late goals. Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp thought his team was done. “One or two looked like they had a sulk on because I’m trying to bring new players in but really they should be fighting for their lives to stay at a great club like Tottenham,” Redknapp said. With just a few minutes remaining Burnley was looking at a 3-0 win and a matchup against United in the final. Pavlyuchenko saved Tottenham from humiliation though as he scored with just three minutes left. “It was cruel on the players, it really was,” Burnley manager Owen Coyle said, “It was a great finish by the lad at the end but everybody at this club can be very proud of what they’ve done.”

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“It is an overwhelming moment, a very special moment in my life,” Ronaldo said, “I would like to say to my mother and sister that the fireworks can be fired off now.”

Ronaldo is the first player ever from the English Premier League to win the award. Ronaldo scored 42 goals in all competitions last season. This year he has struggled with injuries and has just eight league goals in the Premier League.

Ronaldo also won the Ballon D’Or as European player of the year and he won the World Soccer magazine’s player of the year award. Ronaldo is the second Portuguese player to win the award as Luis Figo won in 2001.

“It is a dream for me to get this prize because I want to bring the team and my country forward,” Ronaldo said. “I would like to dedicate it to my family. This is the most important thing to me.”

Ronaldo gave credit to his Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and his former Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. “Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Scolari were decisive,” he said, “I would like to thank them for making me the player I am today.”

The women’s award was won by Brazil’s Marta for the third straight year. Marta received 1,002 points to win the award with Germany’s Birgit Prinz finishing second and Marta’s Brazil teammate Cristiane finishing third. “It is the fifth time I have come here and the third time I win and the emotions are still strong,” said Marta, “This is an award any athlete would be happy to get.” Marta has announced that she will be joining the Los Angeles Sol in the Women’s Professional Soccer league.

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Manchester United has not played yet in the tournament, having received an automatic bid into the semifinals. Manchester United is coming off a scoreless draw in Premier League action against Tottenham on Sunday. Manchester United qualified for this semifinal spot in the Club World Cup by beating Chelsea in the Soccer Betting UEFA Champions League final. The match on Sunday against Gamba could be more difficult than most people believe for Manchester United simply because of the travel. Manchester United is about a 2/5 favorite on the three-way Manchester United soccer betting against Gamba while Pachuca is about a 5-4 favorite on the three-way line against Liga.

Gamba defeated Australia’s Adelaide United 1-0 on Sunday to get into the semifinals. Yasuhito Endo scored the only goal for Gamba in the win. Endo was the MVP of the Asian Champions League. He scored in the 23rd minute, putting a shot past Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic. Gamba is the second Japanese team to reach the semifinals as Urawa Reds did it last year.

Pachuca came from two goals back to defeat Egypt’s Al Ahly 4-2 to make it to the semifinals. Second half goals from Luis Montes and Christian Giminez gave Pachuca the victory.

The last year that a Premier League team competed in the Club World Cup was in 2005 as Liverpool lost 1-0 to Brazil’s Sao Paulo. This is Manchester United’s second appearance in the Club World Cup. They played in the 2000 Club World Cup instead of playing in the English F.A. Cup. The Club World Cup has champs from football’s six continental confederations. It is an extension of the former Intercontinental Cup which was played by European and South American champion clubs. Last year AC Milan won the Club World Cup, beating Boca Juniors 4-2 in the final.

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The Football Association though decided to punish Drogba for the incident. He will now miss Premier League games against Newcastle, Arsenal and Bolton. “I tried to celebrate the goal and I received some things at me,” Drogba said, “The big mistake I did was to throw it back, so if someone was hurt I just want to apologize for it. This is not something I should show in a football match and I want to apologize. It was an incident in the heat of the moment and I regret it. It was just a mistake and nothing more.”

The suspension could be a problem for Chelsea considering they really can’t afford to lose a game since they are tied with Liverpool atop the Soccer Betting Premier League Standings. They are eight points ahead of Manchester United and nine points ahead of Arsenal. Chelsea captain John Terry has said that Arsenal should not be counted out.

“I still consider Arsenal a contender, you should never write off the big sides,” said Terry. “They have the players to do it and they will put a run together. We still have to play them at home and away and anything can happen. We have to make sure we pick up the six points against them in those two games. It is really close at the top at moment. Liverpool are playing well. I watched them before we played West Brom and Manchester United had a good result against Stoke. The main thing for us is to keep winning and try and frustrate the teams below us. We have experienced that in chasing Manchester United the last couple of years. It does get to you. They had the advantage of a better goal difference on us before but we have it now. If we can keep scoring and not conceding it’s like another three points.”

Chelsea will need striker Nicolas Anelka to continue his strong play with Drogba out. Anelka scored twice against Albion and now has 13 for the season.

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Arsenal has not won in any of its last three matches. They played to a 4-4 draw with Tottenham after leading 4-2. One of those matches was a draw to Fenerbahce at home in the Soccer Betting Champions League. Wenger is not happy with his players or with the referees. “In the second half, we dropped physically and were less dangerous from then on,” Wenger said, “We were not sharp enough to put our strikers into good positions. You expect us to make chances in the last 20 minutes and this didn’t come because physically we didn’t have the resources.”

Wenger is really upset about the amount of penalties his team is getting in the Premier League. “Look at the fair play table. Who is top? Arsenal,” he said. “Look at the team that makes less fouls. Arsenal. (Yet) who gets more yellow cards after four or five fouls? Arsenal. Some teams get their first yellow cards after 15 fouls.”

The game on Saturday is so important for Arsenal because Liverpool and Chelsea look to have winnable games. Liverpool is home against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday in a game they should win. Liverpool could get Fernando Torres back for that match on Saturday. Chelsea is at Blackburn on Sunday in a game they could also win. They will want to bounce back strong after losing in Champions League action to AS Roma 3-1 on Tuesday.

Arsenal just can’t afford a loss at home to United. It won’t be easy though as United is gearing up for a run at the title led by winger Cristiano Ronaldo. “We want to win the title so we have to get three points there,” Ronaldo said. “I don’t know if it is tough for them at the moment but they will still have 11 players, the same as us, and I know it will be difficult because it always is.”

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