FA Cup Semifinals Set to Bring out Fireworks
by Valeria Di Meglio | by Abdel Zairi
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur
The Red Devils made the penultimate round after edging out Brighton in the quarterfinals one month ago. Tottenham, on their part, had a field day against Swansea, beating them 3-0, to advance to the semis. Jose Mourinho will make the Wembley visit under pressure to win the only available piece of silverware, having lost the league and EFL Cup to neighbours Manchester City, after being eliminated from the Champions League. Of the two sides, United have the most experience in the FA Cup, having won it 12 times before.
Bet on Manchester to win, odds 11/5 at William Hill
On the other end, Mauricio Pochettino will be bidding to end his team's 10-year trophy drought. Tottenham appear to be hungry enough to fruitfully challenge for the trophy, and with as reliable players as Victor Wanyama, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min on his side, Pochettino might just go ahead and pull an upset.
Bet on Tottenham Hotspur to win, odds 2.20 at Betfair
This is a match that could end with a victory by either team, and it holds all the promise of bringing out the thrills.
Chelsea vs Southampton
The Blues are lined up to play Southampton in the second FA Cup semifinal on Sunday evening. Chelsea made the penultimate round after beating Leicester City in the quarterfinals. This was as Southampton eliminated Wigan Athletic to advance to the second-to-last stage. Chelsea have won the FA Cup seven times, the last time being in 2012, while Southampton only won it in 1976, when they beat the fancied Manchester United 1-0 to carry the day.
Bet on Chelsea to win, odds 1/2 at William Hill
Southampton gave Chelsea a tough time when they met in a league match last weekend, beating them 2-0 by the 60th minute. Although Antonio Conte's men eventually rose to claim a 3-2 victory, the match was proof enough of the strength in Mark Hughes' side. Bet on Southampton to win, odds 6/1 at Betfair.
There is a high likelihood that this is Conte's last season and he will be looking to end it on a high, preferrably with the only available trophy for him. For this match, he will most certainly field Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard, who proved the rescue-men against Southampton last week.
Bet on Olivier Giroud to score at any time, odds 7.00 at Bwin
Hughes also has some fine men on his side, but those that are almost guaranteed slots on the starting lineup are Serbian Dusan Tadic and Pole Jan Bednarek, the time-tested goal poachers in the squad. Shane Long and Charlie Austin are also likely candidates to start in the match. Bet on Dusan Tadic to score at any time, odds 5.25 at Bwin .
Regardless of how this match goes, it promises lots of excitement, and it is highly likely that it will bear the most goals of the two semifinal encounters.
