The English Football (Soccer) Association Cup is a prestigious tournament and one of the most exciting domestic sporting competitions. Here, almost every club in England enters the competition including semi-professional, amateur sides. This not only makes the tournament unique, potentially any club in England can win it.
The unfolding of the tournament is a journey in of itself. The bigger Premiership clubs that are drawn against clubs from a lower league are in fear of losing. Some of these clubs have immense resources that almost match the weight of expectation. Top-flight sides are always expected to beat teams from lower leagues. If they lose this is known as ‘giant killing’. Win or lose the top-flight club can not really win; they can only progress in the competition.
Giant Killing Makes for Good Bets
With the odds stacked in favor of the Premiership sides, the opportunity to win big presents itself. The odds of a lower league or non-league team beating a big club is remote. It proves an irresistible bet for some. Betting odds on lower leagued teams are good, although finding bonus codes is difficult for the FA Cup!
With this in mind, let’s look at a recent act of Giant Killing.
Fulham 2 – Aston Villa 1
Fulham is a west London club that currently plays in the league below the Premiership. They managed to pull off a two-one win against Premiership side, Aston Villa.
Anthony Knockaert scored for the home side with a remarkable strike. Knockaert cut in from the right-wing. He created space for himself, and his hard shot found it’s way in the top right-hand corner.
Villa equalized ten minutes later. Anwar El Ghazi had an easy finish, tapping the ball into the back of the net from close range.
It would be Fulham’s day, however, as substitute Harry Arter scored from distance with a powerful shot.
Not only did Fulham beat a top side but they inflicted a humiliating defeat on Aston Villa. They are now out of the competition, and their dreams of FA Cup glory are dead.
Let’s look at other sides who may face a similar fate to Aston Villa.
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest
Chelsea’s league campaign has been hit and miss this season, so the FA Cup offers a chance for them to win a trophy. They are up against lower leagued, Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Should Forest win, this will be another nail in the coffin of Chelsea and possibly the managerial career of Frank Lampard. That said, player for player, Chelsea is by far the better team and if they play to their potential will win.
Middlesbrough vs Tottenham
Tottenham’s hopes of winning the Premiership title and qualifying for European tournaments next season are well and truly sunk. That said, the FA Cup offers the top-flight side a chance to win a trophy this season.
Middlesbrough in the league below Tottenham is not having the best season to date as they are closer to relegation than promotion.
That said the Tyneside based club will be pumped for their clash with a big club, and if Tottenham has an off-day, they may steal a win.
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