Coutinho magic does it for Reds
Print Edition
PHILIPPE Coutinho produced a moment of magic to earn Liverpool a much-needed 1-0 victory at second-tier Blackburn Rovers in their FA Cup quarterfinal replay on Wednesday.
The Brazilian fired in an accurate low drive in the 70th minute at Ewood Park to earn Brendan Rodgers’s side an FA Cup semifinal date with Aston Villa at Wembley on April 19.
“Over the two games it was a difficult tie,” said Liverpool manager Rodgers. “They are strong and well organized. We knew it would be difficult. But my players were brilliant.”
Coutinho seems to enjoy playing cup replays in this part of northwest England, having also scored the winner against Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round.
In Germany, holder Bayern Munich overcame the absence of several key players to beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-3 on penalties and reach the semifinals of the German Cup.
With the match deadlocked at 0-0 at the end of extra time, Thiago Alcantara converted the decisive penalty in the shootout after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had saved Josip Drmic’s effort.
“Penalties are always a matter of luck,” said Bayern forward Thomas Mueller. “This match cost us a lot of nerves.”
Earlier, Borussia Moenchengladbach crashed out also penalties against third-division Arminia Bielefeld.
In the semifinal, Bayern will host Borussia Dortmund, the team it beat in last year’s final, while Bielefeld will be at home to Wolfsburg.
In Italy, Lazio will be given the chance to land its first trophy since 2013 as it heads to the Italian Cup final against Juventus after overcoming Napoli 1-0 in the semifinal second leg on Wednesday.
With the first leg ending 1-1, Lazio had its work at Napoli against a team it had not beaten in seven straight head-to-head matches.
But a single goal by Senad Lulic, coming at the end of a low Anderson cross on 79 minutes, was all that was needed for the Rome outfit to stun the home side.
Rafa Benitez’s men had chances but Manolo Gabbiadini hit the post on the half-hour mark while Marek Hamsik sent a long-distance volley just inches wide a minute before Lulic’s opener.
The six-time winners will face Juventus in the Italian Cup final after the Turin side thrashed Fiorentina 3-0.
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