"Port Vale have only ever reached the last eight of the FA Cup once before in their entire history, in 1953-54, when they went one stage further, losing the semi-final at Villa Park 2-1 to West Brom thanks to a much-disputed winning goal. If only VAR had been present then, you might say."
"Why was referee Anthony Taylor not asked to go and check the TV monitor when George Hall was cynically taken out by the Sunderland goalkeeper Melkor Ellberg, just outside the penalty area with the match on a knife-edge? Even if the striker's run was going away from goal, he surely had the pace to have got a shot away."
"Dowman, who is still to take his GCSEs, was thrilling in his comeback game after a serious ankle injury. There was a fearlessness about him as he imposed himself from a central midfield position; a determination to showcase his touch and dribbling ability, all of those lovely feints and turns."
"Max was exceptional, he said. When the ball is bouncing all over the place [on an uneven pitch] and you have people in your back, the way he handles time and space and the touches that he takes it's just incredible."
Port Vale achieved a historic milestone by reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals, only the second time in their 130+ year history. They defeated Sunderland 1-0 in their fifth-round match, though the victory was marred by a controversial VAR oversight. Referee Anthony Taylor was not asked to review an incident where Sunderland goalkeeper Melkor Ellberg cynically fouled Port Vale striker George Hall just outside the penalty area during a tightly contested match. Arsenal advanced past League One Mansfield 2-1 in their FA Cup tie, with 16-year-old midfielder Max Dowman impressing despite missing two clear chances in his comeback from a serious ankle injury. Manager Mikel Arteta praised Dowman's exceptional performance and technical ability.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]