LONDON — Aston Villa came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup semifinals Sunday and clinch a title match next month against Arsenal.
Though fighting to stay up in the Premier League, Villa was superior for most of the game at Wembley Stadium against a team that still has aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League.
Yet it was Liverpool that took the lead in the 30th minute following a lackluster opening to the game. Following a deft pass from Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho poked the ball past diving Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given from close range.
Villa responded well to going behind with Jack Grealish impressive on the left flank. In-form striker Christian Benteke put Villa level in the 36th minute after an incisive cutback from captain Fabian Delph. Benteke met Delph’s pass with a low first-time strike that went past outstretching Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who managed to get his fingertips to the shot.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers responded to Villa’s growing superiority toward the end of the first half by bringing on striker Mario Balotelli for midfielder Lazar Markovic. But the substitution did little to alter the game, and Villa started the second half in the same attacking vein it had ended the first.
Following a sustained period of pressure, Villa took the lead in the 54th minute when Delph started and finished a swift move that involved smart passes from Benteke and Grealish. Put through on goal by Grealish, Delph cut past Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren and then fired in the winner past Mignolet from 10 yards.
Liverpool struggled to impose itself on the game but did come close twice to forcing extra time. A header from Steven Gerrard was cleared off the line by Kieran Richardson in the 86th minute. Two minutes later, a goal from Balotelli was ruled offside, although replays suggested he was well on.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@LFCBoston
