Wolves crash out of FA Cup after 3-2 loss to second-tier Coventry

Football

Published: 17 Mar. 2024, 16:17 Updated: 17 Mar. 2024, 18:10

Wolves crash out of FA Cup after 3-2 loss to second-tier Coventry

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Joao Gomes, left, in action with Coventry City's Callum O'Hare during an FA Cup quarterfinal at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhamton, England on Saturday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Wolverhampton Wanderers crashed out of the FA Cup quarterfinals after conceding two stoppage-time goals in a disappointing 3-2 loss to Championship side Coventry City on Saturday.

After a goalless first half at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Ellis Simms opened the scoring for Coventry in the 53rd minute.

Wolves top scorer Hwang Hee-chan was out of the squad due to the injury he picked up in an FA Cup round of 16 match last month, but they still made it 2-1 thanks to Rayan Ait-Nouri’s goal in the 83rd minute and Huge Bueno’s goal in the 88th minute.

Simms, however, tied things up with an injury-time goal in the 97th minute, before Haji Wright scored the crucial winner in the 100th minute to defeat the Premier League team and send his side through the semifinals.

The 3-2 victory marked the first time Coventry have joined the last four at the FA Cup since 1987, when they took the title with a win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Coventry are the first Championship side to reach the semifinals so far this season.

Reigning Premier League champions Manchester City secured their spot with a 2-0 win over Newcastle United later on Saturday, with two other teams set to advance to the semifinals after Sunday’s quarterfinal fixtures.

Chelsea was set to play Championship team Leicester City on Sunday as of press time, before the clash between Manchester United and Liverpool later in the day.

Following the two quarterfinals, some players will be on national duty for the FIFA international break running from Monday through March 26.

Hwang was excluded from Korea’s two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Thailand on March 21 and March 26 due to the injury.

Wolves will be back in Premier League action on March 31 when they face Aston Villa. Wolves sit in ninth place on the 20-team table as of press time Sunday.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]