Super Eagles attacker Kelechi Iheanacho made history as the first fourth substitution in F.A cup history when he entered the fray for Sterling during the extra time period.Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Raheem Sterling in the second half of extra time as the fourth substitute for the citizens who were at that time chasing the game.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will face Chelsea in the FA Cup final after the Gunners came from behind to secure a 2-1 extra-time win over Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
Nacho Monreal’s 71st-minute goal had canceled out Sergio Aguero’s 62nd-minute opener to force an additional 30 minutes in this weekend’s first semi-final, which was settled thanks to Alex Sanchez’s close-range finish with 100 minutes gone on the clock. The result means there will be an all-London final in May, with Arsenal to take on near-neighbours Chelsea after their 4-2 victory over Tottenham on Saturday.
The opening 10 minutes on Sunday provided plenty of action, with Olivier Giroud heading straight at Claudio Bravo from an unmarked position, while at the other end, Petr Cech needed to be alert to just tip David Silva’s header over the crossbar.
The Gunners thought they had opened the scoring after 21 minutes as Laurent Koscielny poked home on the volley from Mesut Ozil’s delivery, although the celebrations were cut short as the linesman correctly flagged for off-side. City would also have a goal ruled out during the first-half, albeit in more controversial fashion as Raheem Sterling’s follow-up from close range wouldn’t count after the assistant referee adjudged Leroy Sane’s cross to have gone out of play before coming back in over the line, although replays suggest the whole of the ball did not go over the whole of the line.
The game finally got the opening goal after 62 minutes as City made the breakthrough on the counter attack, Aguero bursting free from inside his own half to latch onto Toure’s ball over the top before bearing down on Petr Cech, clipping the ball over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. It took the Gunners just 10 minutes to get themselves back into the game, though, as Nacho Monreal came storming in at the far-post to meet Aaron Ramsey’s delivery, hammering home a low shot which flew under Bravo.
The Citizens were desperately unlucky to twice be denied by the woodwork in the final 15 minutes, Yaya Toure first seeing his volley tipped onto the upright by Cech before Fernandinho’s thumping header cannoned back off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten all ends up, with the game eventually going to extra-time.
Arsenal defender Rob Holding had a great chance to put his side ahead after rising unmarked to a delivery, only to head over from just four yards out, although Arsene Wenger’s men continued pressing and were rewarded with 100 minutes gone on the clock, Sanchez getting to a loose ball just ahead of Gael Clichy before driving a low shot past the keeper and into the back of the net.
The Citizens looked determined to force the game to penalties but found chances hard to come by in extra-time as the Gunners were happy to defend in numbers. Frustrations started to boil over as Fabian Delph found himself in the middle of a shoving match, which required a chat between the referee, both captains and the England man to calm the situation. Arsenal though they should have had a penalty with two minutes remaining as Leroy Sane appeared to bring down Ozil from behind in the area, although the referee remained unmoved.
Arsenal are the first team in history to qualify for 20 FA Cup finals.
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