Football – FA Cup | Chelsea, United bosses have last chance to save season at semis

Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata scores his side’s opening goal during the English FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Leicester City and Chelsea

Manchester United will play Tottenham in the FA Cup semifinals at Spurs’ temporary Wembley Stadium home.

The draw yesterday [Macau time] saw last year’s finalist Chelsea face Southampton in the other semifinal.

Both matches will be played at Wembley over the weekend of April 21-22.

Wembley is the designated neutral ground for the semifinals — and final — but Tottenham is well accustomed to it after taking up temporary residence at the national stadium this season while its home at White Hart Lane is being redeveloped.

The draw followed the quarterfinals where Southampton beat third-tier Wigan 2-0 in Mark Hughes’ first game in charge of the Saints, and Chelsea beat Leicester 2-1 thanks to Pedro’s extra time winner.

Chelsea was made to work hard to progress in the only remaining competition it can win this season. Alvaro Morata got the visitors going with his first goal of the year.

The Spanish striker scored on a counterattack minutes before the break. Willian won the ball near his own penalty area and found Morata with a fine pass. Morata took one touch and then sent the ball over the outrushing Kasper Schmeichel with a fine finish.

Leicester improved after the interval and Jamie Vardy might have equalized when he headed a good opportunity over.

The home side’s pressure finally paid off when Vardy equalized with a quarter-hour remaining. Riyad Mahrez crossed and Vardy’s initial effort was blocked by a defender, as was Vicente Iborra’s attempt. Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero saved Iborra’s follow- up, before Vardy finally scored at the fourth attempt.

Caballero, playing in place of the injured Thibaut Courtois, saved another effort from Vardy with minutes remaining, before Schmeichel denied Morata at the other end to send the game to extra time.

However, the Leicester goalkeeper failed to claim N’Golo Kante’s cross and Pedro was allowed to head in the winner during the first half of extra time.

Meanwhile, Southampton rallied after halftime to defeat third-tier Wigan 2-0 and reach the semifinals in Mark Hughes’ first match in charge.

Hughes, who took over as coach from the fired Mauricio Pellegrino on Wednesday, watched as his side was largely outplayed by the home team in the first half. Wigan knocked Manchester City out in the previous round and was looking to beat its fourth Premier League side.

But the visitors improved in the second half and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg made the breakthrough in the 62nd minute when he converted a corner at the near post. The Danish midfielder had just forced a good save from Wigan goalkeeper Christian Walton from the previous corner, and Walton had prevented Manolo Gabbiadini from opening the scoring minutes earlier.

Gabbiadini had the chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot with just under 20 minutes remaining, but Walton saved his spot kick.

Portuguese right back Cedric finally sealed the win on a counterattack in injury time. MDT/AP