English FA Cup: Ahmed Musa brace sink Everton, five Premiership sides knocked out

English FA Cup: Ahmed Musa brace sink Everton, five Premiership sides knocked out

Nigeria’s forward, Ahmed Musa, scored twice as Leicester City came from behind to beat Everton 2-1 in a third round English FA Cup tie on Saturday. Musa came in as a substitute  and became the hit man for the Foxes.

Everton had taken the lead through their top striker, Romelu Lukaku in the 63rd minute.

However, Musa drew level for Leicester City three minutes later, before scoring another goal in 71st minute.

Playing on the counter-attack Leicester’s midfield did an excellent job and, when it was important, they were clinical.

The Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri after the match said, “Musa was excellent. I’ve watched him recently and think he is starting to understand English football better.

“I’m very pleased. We made a good match against a big team who we lost to at home in the league.

“I loved our reaction to conceding a goal,” the Italian gaffer said.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman in his post-match reaction of Leicester’s comeback win at Goodison said, “It’s not bad luck; we did it ourselves.

“It’s unbelievable how we dropped back.

“Everyone is disappointed, but I know what we need to change. It’s my job to get results to match the expectations of this club,” he said.

Manchester United in an earlier third encounter thrashed Reading 4-0 at Old Trafford.

Goals from Wayne Rooney, Anthony Martial, and a brace from Marcus Rashford ensured that the Red Devils kept the FA Cup dream alive.

The goal from Rooney also moved him level with Sir Bobby Charlton as Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer.

The 31-year-old’s FA Cup strike against Reading took him to 249 in 543 games, reaching the landmark 215 matches and four seasons quicker than Charlton.

The record had stood since 1973 but Rooney now seems certain to beat it.

Other results from the FA Cup third round matches  saw a total of five Premier League teams knocked out of the FA Cup at the end of the third round.

Steven Naismith’s injury-time header secured a replay for Championship side Norwich City against Southampton after coming from behind twice in a 2-2 thriller.

While visitors, Derby County knocked out Premier League side West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at the Hawthorns.

Also League One side, Millwall produced an FA Cup third-round shock as they claimed a deserved 3-0 victory over Premier League side Bournemouth.

Championship side, Wolverhampton Wanderers also caused an upset, beating their Premier League hosts, Stoke City 2-0 at the bet365 Stadium.

Hull City defeated Swansea 2-0 at the KCOM Stadium.

Birmingham City held Newcastle to a 1-1 draw at the St. Andrew Stadium, while Bolton Wanderers held Crystal Palace to a goalless draw at the Macron Stadium.

It was also heartbreak for non-league Stourbridge as Nigeria’s Adebayo Akinfenwa headed home to give Wycombe Wanderers a well-deserved 2-1 victory.

The Arsenal  had to come from behind to secure a late 2-1 away victory against Championship side, Preston North End at the Deepdale Stadium.