Leeds United missed a crucial opportunity in their FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea, with Brenden Aaronson failing to score against goalkeeper Robert SĂĄnchez. Chelsea's lead ultimately set the emotional tone for the match.
Key points
Brenden Aaronson missed a key scoring opportunity for Leeds.
Robert SĂĄnchez made a crucial save for Chelsea.
Chelsea took an early lead in the FA Cup semi-final.
Leeds struggled to convert their chances after the missed opportunity.
One moment from their FA Cup semi-final to Chelsea will haunt Leeds. When Tosin Adarabioyo stretched for a through ball and couldnât quite get there, quarter of an hour in, everything seemed to slow down. There was Brenden Aaronson with just Robert SĂĄnchez to beat, with the chance to put Leeds ahead against a side that hadnât scored in five Premier League games and had seemingly lost all confidence. Even at the time it felt a huge moment. The US international didnât do much wrong, but SĂĄnchez made a fine save with his foot. That, it turned out, was the game. There were other opportunities â most notably Anton Stachâs drive that SĂĄnchez saved spectacularly and the Dominic Calvert-Lewin header just after that, aimed straight at the keeper. They came after Chelsea had taken the lead and the emotional tone was set, though. Sometimes one chance can define a game. Jonathan Wilson
Robert SĂĄnchez has struggled at times this season, particularly when playing out from the back, but a change in the dugout brought a change in approach at Wembley. Calum McFarlane talked of wanting to instil fear in the Leeds backline by going direct and the winning goal came about after a long ball by SĂĄnchez. JoĂŁo Pedro outmuscled Pascal Struijk and fed Pedro Neto, whose cross was headed home by Enzo FernĂĄndez. Where was this fight last Tuesday when Chelsea slumped to defeat at Brighton costing Liam Rosenior his job? JoĂŁo Pedro did not play in that one but FernĂĄndez, dropped for two games earlier this month after casting doubt on his future at the club, played his best game in weeks against Leeds in a team performance several levels above what has been offered in recent matches. Chelsea, though, still had their goalkeeper to thank for two big saves. The first at 0-0 from Brenden Aaronson and a much better one from Anton Stach just after half-time. If Chelsea are to win the FA Cup then they will probably need their No 1 to have another good day on 16 May. Stephen Flynn
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3
Guardiola providing âquality timeâ
Pep Guardiola continues to cut a relaxed figure. Perhaps he does so in reaction to the very public anxiety gripping Arsenal in the title run-in but Manchester City players will enjoy a break before a six-game push for history. âI learned in this country: take a day off and the team plays better,â Guardiola said after Saturdayâs FA Cup semi-final defeat of Southampton. âIn the beginning I trained a lot. Now? Home. And quality time, quality, quality time, quality time, everybody ready.â This new, laissez-faire Guardiola will even allow players to go abroad before returning to prepare for Everton on Monday week. âThey can do whatever they want. They want to travel to wherever, they are completely free. As long as they arrive Wednesday afternoon. There, training.â Mikel Arteta, with a Champions League semi-final to play this week, has no such luxury. âLetâs do it together,â Guardiola continued. âAnd after that, holidays in summer and come back next season.â John Brewin
Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland revel in victory.
Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland revel in victory. Photograph: Michael Regan/The FA/Getty Images
4
Saints can benefit from Wembley show
Southamptonâs daunting mission against Manchester City was to produce another defensive masterclass similar to the brilliant effort full of discipline and daring counterattacking that dispatched Arsenal in the quarter-finals. With a full-strength defence the prospect of fending off Pep Guardiolaâs side would be agonising enough but Saints were down two starters in Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens. On the day they were not missed. Welington, in for Manning at left-back, produced a fine interception in the first half to shut a lively City attack down as he nipped in to clear a dangerous through ball from Rayan Cherki to Tijjani Reijnders. In the centre of defence Stephensâ deputy Nathan Wood made several key blocks and clearances to keep the City machine at bay. Outgunned Southampton might never have had the blissful few minutes of leading without the pairâs industry at the back and if the playoffs beckon they should be confident of the final outcome being more positive if Wembley calls again. Graham Searles
It said plenty that Mikel Arteta was not asked about the Nick Pope yellow/red-card incident at his post-match media conference. It was not mentioned with any prominence in the on-the-whistle match reports. And later on Saturday night, Match of the Day did not discuss it. Fair to conclude, then, that most impartial observers felt the decision to give Pope yellow rather than red for his foul on Viktor Gyökeres â with the Newcastle defender, Malick Thiaw, well placed on the cover and favourite to reach the loose ball first â was the right one. Also fair to say that Arteta strongly disagreed. The Arsenal manager brought the subject up himself when he faced the press after his teamâs 1-0 win and, while he was at it, he railed against the decision not to dismiss Manchester Cityâs Abdukodir Khusanov for a last-man foul on Kai Havertz the previous weekend. Arteta knew what he was doing. He cannot bear the thought that a contentious decision might cost Arsenal in the title run-in. By highlighting perceived injustices, does he gain any kind of edge? David Hytner
Applaud the spirit, but West Ham will have to be better if they are going to secure survival. They were riddled with nerves during the first half against Everton and managed the game badly after going 1-0 up in the second half. They retreated too readily, inviting pressure, and it was not a surprise when Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pulled the visitors level in the 88th minute. Yes, there was another twist on the way, Callum Wilsonâs stoppage-time winner rescuing West Ham and keeping them out of the bottom three. How much luck did they use up, though? It was baffling that Everton were not awarded a penalty for a handball by Mateus Fernandes. Nunoâs substitutions were negative and the challenges keep coming. A trip to Brentford on Saturday is awkward. The next home game is against Arsenal. West Ham are fighting and have goals in them but it is going to be horribly tense. Jacob Steinberg
Turning a wayward shot by Alexis Mac Allister into the opening goal against Crystal Palace demonstrated Alexander Isakâs ability to conjure something out of nothing. How Liverpool have needed, and missed, that instinct throughout a trying campaign. Isakâs fourth goal for Liverpool since his record ÂŁ125m transfer, and first for the club in the Premier League at Anfield, visibly lifted a striker who has been plagued by fitness problems all season. âIt is quite an understatement to say heâs had a tough year,â Virgil van Dijk said. âBut now he is fit and we all know what he can bring and he shows it in training and in games as well. I am fully confident it will be absolutely fine for him.â For that to happen, however, Liverpool must improve the supply line to the Sweden international. Teammates are not reading his runs or delivering the passes he craves inside the penalty area. That will come in time, but against Palace they witnessed his ability to turn a game regardless. Andy Hunter
Alexander Isak scores his first Premier League goal at Anfield for Liverpool.
Alexander Isak scores his first Premier League goal at Anfield for Liverpool. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA
9
Fulham determined to finish stronger
There has been a familiar theme to the finishing stages of Fulhamâs three completed seasons since returning to the Premier League. Once April hits things start to tail off. In 27 games played in the last two months of the previous three seasons, Marco Silvaâs side lost 15 of them. Defeat at Liverpool and a 0-0 draw at Brentford suggested the pattern may well repeat itself. But they then saw off a lacklustre Aston Villa side. So what does Silva make of the suggestion his players are more inclined to opt for a metaphorical premature beach trip rather than slug it out for European qualification? âHave you seen us on the beach today?â he countered, when asked after the Villa win. âThe game we played was a sunny moment, but it took place on the grass, not on the beach. I understand â I am the first one who wants us to finish stronger than last season. This sentence to be on the beach is not something I recognise at all in my players.â His team have four games left to prove their manager right. Ben Bloom
VĂtor Pereira delighted in proving that, sometimes, 4-4-2 really is the answer. In deploying Igor Jesus and Chris Wood as twin strikers and Omari Hutchinson and Morgan Gibbs-White (surely overdue an England summons) as highly effective wingers, Nottingham Forestâs manager created the framework for a 5-0 win that has appreciably enhanced his sideâs survival chances. It was the first time Sunderland had lost by five or more goals at home in a league game since 1958 but Regis Le Brisâs team had no answers to either Forestâs intelligent press from that formidable frontline or their innovative set-piece execution. As clever a choreographer as Pereira is undoubtedly proving â Forest have scored more goals than any other top-tier side (16) since the arrival of their fourth manager of the season in February â the often underrated Woodâs return from a serious knee injury has galvanised the team â and Igor Jesus in particular. âIgorâs not playing alone now,â said Pereira. âHeâs playing on the back of Chris, in the pocket, in the zone and heâs dangerous there.â Louise Taylor
