Coventry stun Wolves in FA Cup derby madness as £27m star puts himself in shop window | Football | Sport


scored two stoppage-time goals to send Midlands rivals crashing out of the quarter-finals in a thrilling finish at Molineux. The Sky Blues reached the semis courtesy of a battling 3-2 win, with Wolves star Rayan Ait-Nouri’s superb performance ultimately counting for nothing.

Coventry were the better side throughout, raining 24 shots on Jose Sa’s goal but ultimately failing to find a breakthrough in the first half, with Ellis Simms and Milan van Ewijk among those to miss high-quality chances.

Simms fumbling in from close range in the 53rd minute saw the contest erupt, and Coventry looked as though they would be made to pay for their missed chances when Ait-Nouri and Hugo Bueno turned the game around for Wolves late on.

Coventry refused to lie down, however, and created stunning drama in stoppage time. Simms headed in his second goal of the match in the seventh minute added on, sending the game towards extra-time. But Haji Wright had other ideas, dispatching a cool, calm finish in the 100th minute to spark wild celebrations from the away fans.

Mark Robins’ side are into the semi-finals at Wembley for the first time since winning the FA Cup in 1987. On the other hand it was heartbreak for Wolves, who missed out despite going into the game heavily fancied and putting themselves in a brilliant position just minutes before the final whistle.

Ait-Nouri was superb in a range of positions – initially starting on the left before playing as a central striker later in the game – and his 83rd-minute volley gave him the look of a player well-versed at playing further forward.

The Algerian international, rated at £27million by Transfermarkt, sparkled again five minutes later as he picked up the ball on the halfway line, drove towards the penalty area and laid it on a plate for Bueno to slot home what Wolves thought was the winner.

Although the match ended in agony, 22-year-old Ait-Nouri will have done his chances of earning a big-money move no harm. His goal, assist and display of versatility undoubtedly sent a powerful message to the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, who are reportedly keeping tabs on him ahead of the summer transfer window.

But it was the turn of Coventry’s victorious stars to bask in the spotlight after their show-stopping victory, and match-winner Wright told ITV: “It’s amazing to make it to Wembley, it’s great fun for all of us. Hopefully we can enjoy these celebrations until the next game and then we’re back to work.”

Meanwhile, fellow goal-scorer Simms added: “We’ve come this far and we want to go all the way. We know the next round is going to be tough against a top Premier League team, but on the day we’re going to give it our all and go into it all guns blazing.”





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