잉글랜드 프로축구의 명문팀 맨체스터 유나이티 드(맨유)와 첼시가 잉글랜드 축구협회(FA)컵 8강전에서 4골을 주고받는 치열한 경기를 펼쳤지만 승부를 내지 못했다.
맨유와 첼시는 10일(현지시간) 영국 맨체스터의 올드 트래퍼드에서 열린 2012-2013 FA컵 8강전에서 2-2로 비겼다.
이에 따라 양팀은 추후 첼시의 홈 경기장인 스탬퍼드 브리지에서 재경기를 해 4강 진출자를 다시 결정한다.
지난달 레알 마드리드와의 유럽축구연맹(UEFA) 챔피언스리그 8강에서 진 탓에 '트레블 크라운(UEFA 챔피언스리그, 정규리그, FA컵 우승)'이 무산된 맨유는 FA컵에 총력을 기울였다.
첼시 역시 정규리그에서 만족할 만한 성적을 내지 못하고 FA컵 우승에 올 시즌의 운명을 건 상황이어서 양팀은 미리부터 혈투를 예고했다.
먼저 골을 터뜨리고 경기를 주도한 것은 맨유였다.
맨유는 전반 4분 마이클 캐릭의 롱패스를 받은 하비에르 에르난데스(치차리토)가 헤딩슛을 성공, 앞서 나갔다.
전반 11분에는 웨인 루니가 찬 프리킥이 그대로 골문 안으로 빨려 들어가 2-0으 로 앞서며 승기를 잡는 듯했다.
하지만 2골을 얻어맞은 첼시도 가만히 있지 않았다.
후반은 첼시의 시간이었다.
첼시는 후반 13분 후안 마타의 패스를 받은 에당 아자르가 감아찬 공이 골문 안 쪽에 꽂혀 한 점을 만회했다.
이어 후반 22분에는 하미레스가 골대 오른쪽에서 득점에 성공, 2골차로 밀리던 경기를 원점으로 돌리는 데 성공했다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Chelsea fights back to draw at United in FA Cup
Chelsea staged a second-half fightback at Manchester United to earn 2-2 draw in the FA Cup on Sunday and force a replay to determine who plays Manchester City in the semifinals.
Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney put United ahead 2-0 after just 11 minutes, but substitute Eden Hazard began Chelsea's comeback in the 59th and Ramires equalized seven minutes later.
United manager Alex Ferguson blamed the collapse on fatigue in the wake of Tuesday's Champions League loss at home to Real Madrid. Chelsea's players, though, found the energy only three days after playing in the Europa League in Romania.
“We're lucky to still be in the cup,” Ferguson said. “We just ran out of legs and Chelsea were far the better team in the second half. But I can't be critical of my side because ... the emotions and the intensity of Tuesday night took their toll on some of the players.”
The semifinals will take place on April 13 and 14, with Wigan now waiting to see whether it will play Blackburn or Millwall, who drew 0-0 on Sunday and have to meet again.
In the Premier League on Sunday, third-place Tottenham missed the chance to extend its two-point lead over Chelsea after losing 3-2 at Liverpool. Newcastle moved nine points clear of the drop zone after beating Stoke 2-1.
United is running away with the Premier League title, holding a 12-point lead over neighbor City. But it was coming off a disappointing loss in the Champions League to Real Madrid on Tuesday and was looking for a quick recovery to stay on course for a cup double.
And Alex Ferguson's side looked set to give a perfect response when it went ahead after just five minutes against Chelsea, with Hernandez heading past stranded goalkeeper Petr Cech after Michael Carrick pinged the ball over defender Gary Cahill.
Rooney was on target six minutes later, floating a free kick over Chelsea defender David Luiz and United's Jonny Evans, leaving Cech little time to react.
Rooney's goal came at the end of a week in which Ferguson assured the player of his United future despite being dropped from the starting lineup for the Madrid game.
After losing 1-0 at Steaua Bucharest on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League last-16 phase, Chelsea had looked to be heading out of the FA Cup.
The visiting fans at Old Trafford again turned on interim manager Rafa Benitez and vented their anger over a double substitution early in the second half.
As Frank Lampard and Victor Moses came off, John Obi Mikel and Hazard came on _ and the replacements made the desired impact.
Chelsea pulled one back when Hazard curled a shot from the edge of the penalty past goalkeeper David De Gea.
Fernando Torres then replaced Demba Ba, and the substitute striker sent the ball through to Oscar, who fed Ramires for the equalizer.
“I detected some tiredness because the players kept giving the ball away,” Ferguson said.
United relied on De Gea's fine save late on to deny Juan Mata a winner.
“It's a day to be proud of the team,” Mata said.
The match between the fierce rivals had its biggest flashpoint before the match, with Benitez later accusing Ferguson of snubbing his attempt to shake hands.
“I was ready and waiting,” said Benitez, who became embroiled in disputes with Ferguson before leaving Liverpool in 2010. “I have some education because I know a lot of people are watching so I know what I have to do.”
As Chelsea was playing in the cup, its fight to finish in the top four of the Premier League was helped by Liverpool ending Tottenham's 12-match unbeaten run.
Luis Suarez put Liverpool ahead in the 21st at Anfield with his 50th goal for the club, but Jan Vertonghen headed Tottenham level on the stroke of halftime by meeting a cross from Gareth Bale.
The Wales midfielder set up Vertonghen again after the break as Tottenham went in front, but a defensive mix-up allowed Liverpool to equalize in the 66th as Stewart Downing grabbed a rare goal.
Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto then fouled Luis Suarez in the area, and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard buried the winner from the penalty spot to clinch a third successive win that took his team sixth.
At St. James' Park, Papiss Cisse scored in stoppage time after Yohan Cabaye canceled out Jonathan Walters' penalty for Stoke to give Newcastle the win that eases any relegation fears. (AP)
