Manchester City will play Stoke in the FA Cup final after they beat Manchester United and Bolton respectively at Wembley this weekend. It will be City’s first FA Cup final in 30 years and Stoke’s first ever.
City saw off rivals United 1-0 on Saturday thanks to Yaya Toure’s 52nd-minute winner and Stoke thrashed Bolton 5-0 on Sunday with goals from Matthew Etherington, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones in the first 30 minutes and two second-half strikes by Jon Walters.
In the Premier League Arsenal missed the chance to close the gap on United to four points as Liverpool held them to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates. Following a second-half injury to Jamie Carragher, Robin van Persie put Arsenal ahead with a 98th-minute penalty but Dirk Kuyt equalised from the spot in the 102nd. Chelsea are only two points behind Arsenal after they won 3-1 at West Brom.
Blackpool replaced Wigan in the bottom three due to a 3-1 home defeat. West Ham are a point behind Blackpool following a 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa. Blackburn are only two points above the drop zone after a 2-0 defeat at Everton and both Birmingham and Sunderland five clear thanks to the Blues’ 2-0 win.
Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix, the Englishman’s first victory of the season. Hamilton overtook world champion and championship leader Sebastien Vettel, who took the first two races of the year, with four laps to go. Mark Webber denied Jenson Button third place by overtaking him on the penultimate lap.
Leicester remain top of Rugby Union’s Premiership despite being held 41-41 at home to Gloucester, who equalised with a last-minute interception try from Eliota Fuimaono-Sapulo. Saracens are just two points behind the Tigers in second and nine clear of third-placed Gloucester with their seventh straight Premiership win – 33-12 at Exeter. Northampton occupy the last play-off spot courtesy of a 22-15 win at Newcastle, who climbed off bottom thanks to a losing bonus point. They were replaced by Leeds, who were thrashed 51-18 at Wasps. Elsewhere, London Irish and Bath strengthened their grasp on European Cup qualification with wins at Sale and at home to Harlequins respectively.
Huddersfield moved top of Rugby League’s Super League with a 38-6 win at Leeds while Castleford, who led last week, drew 26-26 at Harlequins. St Helens are second thanks to a 52-6 thrashing of Wakefield. Warrington are fourth courtesy of a 64-6 demolition of Crusaders and Wigan, who won 28-16 at Hull KR, are fifth. Catalan Dragons are next after a 28-10 win at home to Hull FC and Salford thumped Bradford 56-16.
In Cricket’s County Championship Warwickshire stunned Division One title favourites Somerset by an innings and 382 runs, defending champions Nottinghamshire beat Hampshire by nine wickets and Durham saw off Yorkshire by 146 runs. In Division Two Derbyshire and Northamptonshire enjoyed innings wins over Leicestershire and Kent respectively while Glamorgan beat Gloucestershire and Middlesex defeated Kent.
Finally, Emmanuel Mutai and Mary Keitany secured a Kenyan double in the London Marathon men’s and women’s races.
