The race for FA Cup glory is heating up as at least nine teams have officially booked their places in the fifth round of this season's competition following a weekend of intense action.
The journey to the next stage began on Friday night, with Wrexham and Chelsea securing their progression. The Blues delivered a dominant 4-0 away victory over Hull City, highlighted by Pedro Neto's first senior hat-trick.
Saturday proved to be a packed fixture day, with several Premier League heavyweights joining the list. Manchester City cruised past Salford with a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium. Goals from Ait-Nouri and Marc Guehi ensured Pep Guardiola's side remained on course for silverware.
At Villa Park, Newcastle United showcased their resilience by overcoming a determined Aston Villa side. The Villans were reduced to 10 men, and the Magpies capitalized on their numerical advantage to secure a hard-fought win and advance to the next round.
West Ham United needed extra time to overcome stubborn opposition from Burton. Super-sub Crysencio Summerville emerged as the hero, scoring the decisive winner to send the Hammers through after regulation time ended in a stalemate.
Southampton, Mansfield Town, and Norwich City also secured their places in the fifth round with solid performances in their respective fixtures. The day's action concluded with Liverpool putting on a clinical display, thrashing Brighton 3-0 to seal their progression in emphatic fashion.
Full List of Teams Qualified for FA Cup Fifth Round:
1. Wrexham
2. Chelsea
3. Manchester City
4. West Ham United
5. Newcastle United
6. Southampton
7. Mansfield Town
8. Norwich City
9. Liverpool
The fifth round action continues on Sunday with four exciting fixtures on the cards. Arsenal will host Wigan at the Emirates Stadium, hoping to join their rivals in the next stage. Fulham face a tricky away test at Stoke City, while Oxford United take on Sunderland in what promises to be a closely contested battle. Wolves complete Sunday's lineup as they welcome Grimsby to Molineux.
With nine teams already through and more expected to join them, the FA Cup fifth round is shaping up to deliver more thrilling knockout football.
#FACup #ManchesterCity #Liverpool #Chelsea #NewcastleUnited #FACupFifthRound #EnglishFootball #FootballNews