LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom: Maidstone manager George Elokobi said the “magic of the FA Cup is very much alive” after the sixth-tier side stunned Championship high-flyers Ipswich 2-1 as Luton struck at the death to dump Everton out in the fourth round on Saturday.
Ipswich are 98 places and four divisions above Maidstone in the English football pyramid, but manager Kieran McKenna was left to rue making 10 changes.
The visitors’ two goals were worthy of winning any cup tie as Lamar Reynolds produced a cool chip over Christian Walton as Maidstone surged upfield from an Ipswich corner just before half-time.
Jeremy Sarmiento looked to have restored order when the Ecuador international drilled low into the bottom corner on 56 minutes.
However, there was another twist in a fairytale story as Reynolds this time played provider for Sam Corne to fire in the winner 24 minutes from time.
“Our boys have run themselves into the ground and that is what we said, ‘leave nothing in the changing room’,” said former Wolves defender Elokobi.
“This binds us for life, what our boys are achieving right now. What our boys are achieving now has not been done in over 100 years. The magic of the FA Cup is very much alive.”
Everton and Luton’s priority is survival in the Premier League and the Hatters’ 96th-minute winner at least ensured they both avoided a replay.
Vitaliy Mykolenko’s own goal gave Luton a half-time lead that was canceled out when stand-in goalkeeper Tim Krul allowed Jack Harrison’s shot through his grasp early in the second period.
A bad-tempered affair appeared to be meandering toward a stalemate until Cauley Woodrow bundled home from a corner right at the death.
Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick, including two penalties, as Brighton beat Sheffield United 5-2 at Bramall Lane.
Facundo Buonanotte’s fine strike and Pedro’s first spot-kick put the visitors 2-0 up.
But last season’s semifinalists were pegged back before half-time as Gustavo Hamer and William Osula struck for the Blades.
Another Pedro penalty restored Brighton’s advantage before he completed his hat-trick and Danny Welbeck rounded off the scoring deep into stoppage time.
Championship leaders Leicester made light work of Birmingham as Jamie Vardy was on target in a 3-0 victory.
Leeds and Plymouth are one of at least four ties set for a replay after they drew 1-1 at Elland Road.
Newcastle face Fulham in Saturday’s late kick-off as the Magpies aim to move one step closer to a first FA Cup success for 69 years.
Holders Manchester City booked their place in the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Tottenham on Friday night thanks to Nathan Ake’s late winner.
Liverpool are in action on Sunday when they host Norwich at what is sure to be an emotional Anfield for the Reds’ first match since manager Jurgen Klopp announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Newport County of League Two are also seeking a huge upset when they host Manchester United on Sunday.
Sixth-tier Maidstone stun Ipswich, Luton dump out Everton in FA Cup 4th round
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Sixth-tier Maidstone stun Ipswich, Luton dump out Everton in FA Cup 4th round
- Ipswich are 98 places and four divisions above Maidstone in the English football pyramid
- Everton and Luton’s priority is survival in the Premier League and the Hatters’ 96th-minute winner at least ensured they both avoided a replay
Real Sociedad end Barca winning streak to tighten Liga title race
- The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain: Real Sociedad damaged Barcelona’s title defense ambitions as Goncalo Guedes gave them a surprise 2-1 La Liga victory on Sunday as Hansi Flick’s side fell to a first defeat in 12 matches.
The Catalan giants, who hit the woodwork four times and had two goals disallowed, now only lead rivals Real Madrid by a single point at the top of the table after Alvaro Arbeloa’s side beat Levante on Saturday.
Hosts Real Sociedad, now unbeaten in four games under new American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, had Carlos Soler sent off late on but managed to hold on to triumph and climb up to eighth.
“I think we deserved to win today, we had a lot of chances, but in the end you have to put them away,” Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong told DAZN.
“We played well but we didn’t win... their goalkeeper had a very good game.”
Sociedad shot-stopper Alex Remiro made several crucial saves.
“Three great points and a great game,” said Remiro.
“We’ve started this year in great form... this is the energy we have, how we’ve changed (recently).”
In a frantic start to a compelling game at the rainy Reale Arena, both teams had goals ruled out.
La Real had the ball in the net inside 30 seconds when Mikel Oyarzabal headed home Guedes’s cross, but had strayed offside.
At the other end, Barcelona’s Fermin Lopez drilled home from range but Dani Olmo had committed a foul in the build-up and it was ruled out.
With teenage winger Lamine Yamal keen to take on defenders, Barca got in often down the right flank. The 18-year-old teed up Olmo who fired high over the bar when he might have sent the Catalans ahead.
Yamal found the net himself but the goal was ruled out for an extremely tight offside, before Real Sociedad took the lead against the run of play.
Oyarzabal lashed home Guedes’s cross with a blistering volley inside Joan Garcia’s near post.
Yamal was felled just inside the area before half-time but although the referee pointed to the spot, a VAR review showed that the youngster was offside again and it was canceled out.
Remiro heroics
Barcelona turned up the pressure in the second half and Real Sociedad were left depending on Remiro and the frame of the goal to keep the Catalans at bay.
Olmo crashed a shot against the post from Lopez’s cross and then Remiro denied the Barca midfielder with a fine near-post save.
Remiro then tipped substitute Robert Lewandowski’s header against the crossbar with the save of the night.
Another Barca substitute, Marcus Rashford, eventually pulled the champions level, heading Yamal’s cross home after 70 minutes.
However, the hosts immediately regained their advantage after Barca goalkeeper Garcia initially saved Carlos Soler’s shot. The midfielder was able to gather the rebound and cross for Guedes, who fired La Real ahead again.
They should have got a third when Garcia, out of his goal, had no chance of saving Oyarzabal’s effort but Pau Cubarsi headed the ball off the line.
Barcelona came within centimeters of an equalizer when Joao Cancelo, on his second debut for the club, crossed for Jules Kounde, who headed against the crossbar.
Soler was dismissed for an ugly foul on Pedri before nine minutes of stoppage time were added on.
Rashford hit the post directly from a corner kick as Barca pushed until the end but could not find a way through.
