Man United ends Fulham's FA dream
Keegan softens stance on taking England job after loss
Posted: Sunday February 14, 1999 03:05 PM
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Manchester United's Andy Cole (right) celebrates with teammate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after scoring the winning goal against Fulham. AP |
LONDON (AP) -- Manchester United had trouble showing its class in
an FA Cup fifth-round 1-0 victory Sunday -- on a 26th-minute
deflected goal by Andy Cole -- over second-division but highly
regarded Fulham.
Fulham, being rejuvenated by coach Kevin Keegan and millionaire
owner Mohamed Al Fayed, showed to be almost the equal of United
before a 55,000 sellout at Old Trafford.
Cole scored on a 10-yard deflected shot off a deep
cross, but Fulham almost scored one minute later when Dirk Lehmann
was momentarily free in the box before Gary Neville made an artful
tackle as Lehmann poised to shoot.
And in the 67th, Fulham's John Salako was stopped from nearly
point-blank range as United keeper Peter Schmeichel made a key save
diving to his right.
Keegan, being mentioned as the top candidate to replace fired
England coach Glenn Hoddle, indicated Sunday he might be interested
in the job after saying earlier he wasn't.
"If I'm approached and Mr. Fayed gives his permission I will
speak to them [the FA]," Keegan said. "At this moment in time, I've
not had a phone call, but judging by what had happened, mainly in
the media, I should be getting one."
In Sunday's other FA Cup match, Blackburn drew 0-0 at Newcastle
forcing a replay.
In Sunday's draw for the FA Cup quarterfinals March 6-7, it will
be: Newcastle or Blackburn vs. Everton; Barnsley vs. Leeds or
Tottenham; Arsenal or Sheffield United vs. Huddersfield or Derby;
Manchester United vs. Chelsea.
Along with Fulham, the class act of the weekend was clearly
defending FA Cup champion Arsenal and coach Arsene Wenger.
After Arsenal beat Sheffield United Saturday 2-1 on a tainted
goal, Wenger suggested the match should be replayed -- an offer
immediately accepted by the English Football Association with the
return expected Feb. 23.
With the match tied 1-1 late in the second half at Arsenal's
Highbury ground, United striker Lee Morris was injured in the area
on a challenge from Arsenal defender Gilles Grimandi.
United's appeal for a penalty was turned down and, a Morris
limped off injured Sheffield keeper Alan Kelly kicked the ball out
for an Arsenal throw-in.
Arsenal's Ray Parlour's intended his throw-in for Kelly -- in a
sporting gesture -- but Arsenal teammate Nwankwo Kanu (a Nigerian
recently obtained from Inter Milan) took the pass, and crossed the
ball to Marc Overmars who scored into the unprotected goal in the
76th.
Sheffield United coach Steve Bruce led a vocal 10-minute protest
against referee Peter Jones -- joined by 6,000 visiting Sheffield
United fans at Arsenal's Highbury ground -- but to no avail.
But Wenger stepped up after the victory and offered the replay.
"It was unfortunately an accident," Wenger said. "I think
spirit-wise we didn't want to cheat ... and Kanu didn't know what
happened, he didn't understand at all because he's a very fair
player."
"Kanu is feeling very down. He's very sad. And we all have the
feeling we didn't win the game like we wanted to. It was an
accident," Wenger added.
The FA immediately accepted the show of sportsmanship.
"It is an unprecedented situation," FA spokesman Steve Double
said. "Everybody welcomes the sporting gesture by Arsene Wenger."
Kanu and Overmars also seemed relieved.
"I don't feel as if I have tried to do something that was
wrong," he said. "I thought the game was going on as normal."
"If I'm honest, I put the ball in the net because I didn't see
what happened with the other side," Overmars said. "I didn't know
that it was because of an injury that the goalkeeper had kicked the
ball out of play."
"But the replay is a good plan. I'm happy with that because it
was a mistake and here is a chance to do something about it. I've
never experienced anything like this before and it's very sad the
way it has gone, but now we can put it right."
In Saturday's other FA Cup fifth-round matches: Barnsley 4,
Bristol Rovers 1; Everton 2, Coventry 1; Huddersfield 2, Derby 2;
Leeds 1, Tottenham 1; Sheffield Wednesday 0, Chelsea 1;
In two Premier League matches Saturday: Charlton 1, Liverpool 0;
West Ham 2, Nottingham Forest 1.
In a late match Sunday, Blackburn played at Newcastle in the FA
Cup fifth round.
In Scotland Saturday in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup,
Celtic defeated Dunfermline 4-0 with three goals from Henrik
Larsson for a league-leading 27. In other cup ties: Ayr 1, Albion
0; Greenock Morton 6, Clyde 1; Livingston 1, St. Johnstone 3;
Motherwell 2, Stirling 0; Stranraer 1, Falkirk 2.
Rangers played late Sunday against Hamilton in the Scottish Cup
fourth round.
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