Oscar stunner helps Chelsea set up City clash

LONDON: A superb free kick from Oscar gave Chelsea a 1-0 win over Stoke City in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday, setting up a mouthwatering last-16 tie at Premier League rivals Manchester City in the process.

The Brazil midfielder scored in the 27th minute at Stamford Bridge with a curling 20-metre shot that ended in the top corner as Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic dived in vain.

Chelsea’s trip to the Etihad Stadium on the weekend of February 15-16 will follow hot on the heels of their away game at City a week on Monday, but the London club’s manager Jose Mourinho took the draw in his stride.

“No problem. If you want to be the best, you have to play against the best,” he told ITV after the match against Stoke. “So it’s good for us — good experience, good game, big game, good.”

Earlier on Sunday, Fulham needed an equaliser 15 minutes from time to draw 1-1 with third-tier strugglers Sheffield United, who were down to 10 men.

Hugo Rodallega scored Fulham’s equaliser with a low shot that spared his side more misery this season. The London club are just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League standings.

Chris Porter put the hosts ahead in the 31st minute as he diverted a shot past David Stockdale. But the League One club had Michael Doyle sent off for a kick at Muamer Tankovic early in the second-half and could not hold on to their lead.

On Saturday, Sergio Aguero’s late hat-trick rescued Manchester City from FA Cup humiliation at the hands of second-tier Watford, ushering the Premier League title favourites into the fifth round with a 4-2 victory.

Watford were half an hour away from a seismic FA Cup shock after goals by Fernando Forestieri and Troy Deeney had fans dreaming of a famous result.

But they eventually succumbed to the siege as Aguero produced clinical finishes in the 60th and 79th minutes to level the score before Aleksandar Kolarov put City in front three minutes from time and their Argentina striker completed a treble to maintain Manuel Pellegrini’s side’s four-pronged assault on silverware.

“I wanted to change all of my players at half-time, all 11 of them,” a relieved Pellegrini said. “The whole team was a disaster in the first-half.”

There were no such worries for Everton who eased past third-tier Stevenage 4-0 largely thanks to Steven Naismith’s first-half brace.

Johnny Heitinga and Magaye Gueye were the other scorers for Everton who paid a price for their victory though with Costa Rica fullback Bryan Oviedo suffering a suspected broken leg.

Premier League Crystal Palace were the biggest casualties, losing 2-1 at holders Wigan Athletic, who were relegated to the Championship after stunning City 1-0 in last season’s final.

Ben Watson, who scored the winning goal at Wembley last May, set Wigan on their way in the 36th minute, with James McClean netting a 78th-minute winner after Aaron Wilbraham drew Palace level.

Apart from Palace’s exit there were no other surprises with Wilfried Bony’s double helping Swansea City triumph 2-1 at Birmingham City, Cardiff City winning 1-0 at Bolton Wanderers and Southampton easing past second-tier side Yeovil Town 2-0.

After stunning Manchester United in the League Cup semi-finals in mid-week, Sunderland toiled to overcome non-league Kidderminster Harriers 1-0, with Charis Mavrias scoring the only goal in the fifth minute while fourth tier Southend United were beaten 2-0 at home by Premier League Hull City.

Championship sides Brighton and Hove Albion and Charlton Athletic also reached the fifth round along with three-time winners Sheffield Wednesday who ended the hopes of fourth-tier Rochdale, winning 2-1 away despite finishing with 10 men.

Apart from the clash between Chelsea and City in the fifth round, there is another explosive tie which pits Premier League leaders Arsenal against Liverpool.

There will be two other all-Premier League ties in the fifth round, with Sunderland playing Southampton and Everton manager Roberto Martinez facing his former club Swansea City. Wigan, meanwhile, will visit Cardiff.

Results (parentheses denote playing division):

Sunday:

Chelsea 1 Stoke City 0

Sheffield United 1 (III) Fulham 1

Saturday:

AFC Bournemouth (II) 0 Liverpool 2

Birmingham City (II) 1 Swansea City 2

Bolton Wanderers (II) 0 Cardiff City 1

Huddersfield Town (II) 0 Charlton Athletic (II) 1

Manchester City 4 Watford (II) 2

Port Vale (III) 1 Brighton and Hove Albion (II) 3

Rochdale (IV) 1 Sheffield Wednesday (II) 2