SM
Cagliari vs. Juventus: 5 hrs 7 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
WL
FA Cup | Semi-Finals
Apr 7, 2019 at 4pm UK
 
WL

3-2

Deulofeu (79', 104'), Deeney (94' pen.)
FT
(aet)
Doherty (36'), Jimenez (62')

Deulofeu was fuelled by anger - Watford boss Gracia hails match-winner

:Headline: Deulofeu was fuelled by anger - Watford boss Gracia hails match-winner: ID:355602: from db_amp
The substitute scored twice as Watford reached their first FA Cup final since 1984 after a thrilling comeback against Wolves.

Watford boss Javi Gracia believes Gerard Deulofeu used his anger at being left on the bench to inspire Watford to a sensational FA Cup semi-final comeback against Wolves.

The super sub struck a brilliant brace, including a 104th-minute winner, as the Hornets hit back from 2-0 down with 11 minutes left to win 3-2 at Wembley.

The 25-year-old turned the game with an audacious chip before Troy Deeney's 90th-minute penalty sent it into extra-time.

Watford's Gerard Deulofeu celebrates his extra-time winner against Wolves (Nick Potts/PA).

Wolves were on the brink of reaching their first FA Cup final for 59 years after goals fromĀ Matt Doherty and Raul Jimenez put them 2-0 up with 62 minutes gone, but Deulofeu's 66th-minute introduction sent the Hornets into their second FA Cup final and first since 1984, where they will face Manchester City.

Gracia said: "I think Gerard was angry when we started to play, I like to see the players this way, when they've felt angry, to show what they are able to do.

"He helped the team scoring two important goals. The first one was high quality, but it's not a surprise, I see him in all the training sessions.

"We knew when we started with other players Gerard would be important, I knew it. What I didn't know was when we started to play we were losing 2-0.

"All the players show they deserve to play and it's not easy to choose the moments for them."

Wolves were in control and cruising thanks to Doherty's 36th-minute opener and Jimenez's close-range finish just after the hour.

Deulofeu's superb chip with 11 minutes left pulled a goal back to set up a grandstand finish.

Deeney's penalty then hauled Watford level in added time after the striker was tripped by Leander Dendoncker.

Troy Deeney's nerveless penalty took the match into extra-time (John Walton/PA).

Gracia added: "Troy is our captain and is important and in that moment I was full of confidence. I was calm because I knew Troy would score.

"It's not easy to explain the game. Before we knew it would be tough and very demanding. When everything was lost the team was able to show our character, our personality and ambition."

Deulofeu won it after 104 minutes when he latched on to Andre Gray's pass, held off Conor Coady and rolled a finish past John Ruddy.

"It's a tough moment of real pain and disappointment," said Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

"The feeling is we had it. It went away from us, we have to look at it, we have to realise in the last minute of the game we should manage better.

"It's pain and silence (in the dressing room) of course. All that we've done, the tough ties we have had to reach Wembley, now it's over. We face it as a group.

"Every challenge we have, it's up to us to work on it. Even though we are in real pain we are conscious we should have done better.

"It's difficult to face Watford, congratulations to them, but we should have done better. Nothing is going to change. We have to realise we had it."

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo was unable to stop the match slipping away from his team in extra-time (John Walton/PA).

Nuno also trusted the video assistant referee after VAR was used to check on Michael Oliver's crucial penalty decision.

"If VAR is in the game, if they judge the situation and see the images, I trust them," he added.

"The moment that happened we realised it was going to be tougher for us, the momentum of the game was with Watford.

"It's difficult to erase from our minds. I'm proud of the boys, it's been a tough competition, we want to grow and improve so we have another chance to come to Wembley."

amp_article__355602 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-04-08 09:30:50:
html db last update - 2021-03-04 02:30:50 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Gerard Deulofeu

Click here for more stories about Watford

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
2Leicester CityLeicester422841079384188
3Leeds UnitedLeeds43269876344287
4Southampton42259884543084
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4320121166422472
6Norwich CityNorwich432181476601671
7Hull City421811136254865
8Coventry CityCoventry4217121366521463
9Middlesbrough43189166156563
10Preston North EndPreston43189165660-463
11Cardiff CityCardiff43185204860-1259
12Bristol City431610175046458
13Sunderland43168195250256
14Swansea CitySwansea431411185362-953
15Watford431216155958152
16Millwall431311194255-1350
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn431310205771-1449
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth431212195866-848
19Queens Park RangersQPR431211204057-1747
20Stoke CityStoke431211204160-1947
21Birmingham CityBirmingham43129224864-1645
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield43917174770-2344
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds43128233667-3144
RRotherham UnitedRotherham43411283285-5323
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .