lrbw041115

Page 24 The British Weekly, Sat. April 11, 2015British Weekly SportNo gaffes fromPrince Philippe!fa Cup quarter finalBlaCKBuRN R.....0lIveRpool...........1Liverpool’s FA Cuptalisman PhilippeCoutinho worked hismagic again to defeatBlackburn RoversWednesday night andset up a semi-finalmeeting with AstonVilla at Wembley.The mercurialBrazilian scored aspectacular late winnerin Liverpool’s fourthroundreplay win atBolton and broke thedeadlock at Ewood Parkwith 20 minutes left toput Brendan Rodgers’sside into the last four.It was a performanceshort on quality fromLiverpool in aquarter-final replayplayed out on a scruffysurface but all thatmattered was the victoryrequired to keep hopes ofsuccess alive this termafter successive PremierLeague losses to top fourrivals Manchester Unitedand Arsenal haddamaged their hopes of aplace in next season’sChampions League.Rodgers insists theReds can still make thetop four - but the FA Cupremains the morerealistic success andwould be his first trophyin his third season incharge at Anfield.Liverpool, who willface Villa on Sunday, 19April in the semi-finals,endured a night of hardtoil in the face of astirring challenge fromGary Bowyer’sChampionship side.Blackburn had earnedthis second chance with agoalless draw at Anfieldlast month and will feelhard done by to have notearned a place atWembley.The Premier Leagueside were indebted togoalkeeper SimonMignolet for twooutstanding saves earlyin the second half fromTom Cairney and BenMarshall - then evenmore dramatically in theclosing seconds as hestopped his oppositenumber SimonEastwood from forcingextra time as he came upfor a corner.Liverpool producedthe moment of class thatmattered when Coutinhoexchanged passes withJordan Henderson beforedriving in from the anglein front of the elatedtravelling supportsTaR MaN: the Brazilian scored Wednesday to secure Liverpool’s semi-final spotmassed into Ewood’sDarwen End.The victory will easethe disappointment ofthose two crucial lossesand Rodgers will hope itprovides fresh impetusfor the final seven leaguegames of the season.On a pitch that hardlylent itself to quality, itwas an optimistic longpunt forward thatcreated the firstopportunity, MamadouSakho’s confusionalmost letting Craigcont. on page 23, col. 1RESTAURANT:116 Santa Monica Blvd.Santa Monica CA 90401(310) 451-1402Happy HourMon-Fri 4-7(food specials)SHOPPE: 132 SantaMonica Blvd., SantaMonica(310) 394-8765Open Sun-Thurs10am-8pm • Fri. & Sat.10am-10pmSat 4/11 English Premier League7am West Ham v Stoke7am Tottenham v Aston Villa9.30am Burnley v ArsenalSun 4/12 English Premier League8am Man UItd v Man CityTue 4/14 Champions League11.45am Juventus v Monaco11.45am Atl. Madrid v R. MadridWed 4/15 Champions League11.45am Porto v Bayern11.45am PSG v BarcelonaMon 4/13 English Premier LeagueNoon Liverpool v NewcastleSat 4/18 English Premier League9.30am Chelsea vs Man. Utd.RESTAURANT: 116 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica CA 90401SHOPPE: 132 Santa Monica Blvd. • (310) 394-8765King’s Head Studio City, 12969 Ventura Blvd. Tel: (818) 990-9055.www.yeoldekingshead.com