AC Milan needed a late equaliser from substitute Noah Okafor to rescue a point at the end of a stunning 3-3 draw away at Sassuolo, but saw their faint hopes of winning the Serie A title all but extinguished.

Okafor struck in the 84th minute, turning the ball home from a corner barely three minutes after being summoned from the bench by Stefano Pioli, as Milan salvaged a point from a game that had looked beyond them when the hosts raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes.

Andrea Pinamonti and Armand Lauriente hit the visitors with a rapid-fire double as they sought to breathe momentum into their hopes of avoiding the drop.

A win here would have dragged them out of the bottom three, but Milan hit back quickly with Rafael Leao scoring after 20 minutes to jangle Sassuolo’s nerves.

Lauriente hit his second after the break to make it 3-1, but facing disaster Pioli’s side summoned the necessary resolve to rescue a draw, first Luka Jovic made it 3-2 just before the hour mark, then Okafor struck late to cap a dramatic encounter.

Sassuolo were good value for their early lead, given to them when Pinamonti finished with aplomb into the bottom corner with the game just four minutes old, his 10th of the season for the strugglers who remained second from bottom of the table.

And it was 2-0 six minutes later when Lauriente netted his first of the afternoon, bursting through the visiting defence and scoring to stun Milan.

The Rossoneri were already facing the possibility of seeing Inter seal the title when the two sides meet at San Siro later in April, and the prospect of seeing their city rivals crowned champions was all but rubber stamped here.

They were at least spared the ignominy of a sixth league defeat of the season, Leao starting the comeback when he slotted past goalkeeper Andrea Consigli after 20 minutes.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek was fortunate not to concede a penalty shortly after half-time, but Sassuolo soon had their two-goal lead again, Lauriente turning the ball home to spark joyous scenes amongst home fans.

It would have been a famous win, one that would have been a huge boost to their hopes of securing a 12th consecutive Serie A season, but Milan would not lie down, Jovic giving them hope with a goal after 59 minutes.

Okafor came off the bench to ensure late drama and spare his team’s blushes, but it is unlikely to alter the destination of the title.

Man Utd beat holders Chelsea for first time to reach Women’s FA Cup final

Manchester United advanced to an FA Cup final against Tottenham after holding out for an historic 2-1 victory over holders Chelsea at Leigh Sports Village.

In a rematch of last year’s final that they lost 1-0, Marc Skinner’s United went in front in the first minute through a Lucia Garcia header before doubling the advantage midway through the first half when Rachel Williams headed home.

Former United player Lauren James pulled a goal back just prior to the break and the visitors did most of the attacking thereafter but were unable to force extra time, with Mary Earps making a superb save to thwart James and substitute Catarina Macario hitting the bar.

The result is a first victory for United over Chelsea since the team’s launch in 2018 – and they now have a chance to secure a maiden piece of major silverware when they return to Wembley on May 12 to face Spurs, who beat Leicester in the other semi-final earlier on Sunday.

Chelsea, meanwhile, saw a trophy bid end for the second successive game, having lost 1-0 to Arsenal in the League Cup final last time out.

They remain in the hunt for the Women’s Super League – currently topping a table in which United lie fourth – and the Champions League, with a semi-final first leg in Barcelona to come next Saturday, as they seek glory in their final few games before boss Emma Hayes departs to take charge of the United States.

United made a dream start as they grabbed the lead in the opening few seconds, Chelsea full-back Eve Perisset being punished for losing possession with Leah Galton claiming the ball on the left and delivering a cross to far post, where Garcia headed in.

And after unsuccessful attempts at the other end from James and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, the hosts then extended their advantage via another header teed up from the left, Ella Toone this time providing the delivery and veteran forward Williams, brought into the starting XI for Nikita Parris, nodding past Hannah Hampton.

Williams had the chance to make it 3-0 soon after but could not get her shot on target, before James fired into the side-netting.

Chelsea subsequently exerted further pressure as the interval drew near, and following a header from Mayra Ramirez going wide and Earps doing well to turn one from James around the post, the latter halved the deficit as she fired in from Niamh Charles’ cutback.

Earps – who was dropped to the bench for England’s win over the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, with Hampton playing in her place – then pulled off an even better save to keep out another James header six minutes into the second half.

As Chelsea continued to hunt a leveller, Rytting Kaneryd’s claims for a penalty were dismissed after she struck the ball against Katie Zelem, and Earps was in action again to deny Erin Cuthbert and James.

The verdict was no penalty again after a Williams collision with Charles, and Chelsea were then inches away from equalising as Macario’s curling corner connected with the bar.

Stoppage time at the end saw a Parris strike saved by Hampton and fellow substitute Aggie Beever-Jones shoot into the side-netting as Skinner’s team sealed a ground-breaking triumph.

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Chelsea predicted lineup vs Everton - Premier League
Chelsea welcome Everton to Stamford Bridge on Monday night
Maurico Pochettino admitted both Enzo Fernandez and Axel Disasi could miss upcoming fixture
Blues' injury list is still lengthy

By James Cormack
Apr 14, 2024
Chelsea are back in action at Stamford Bridge on Monday night as they welcome Everton to west London.

Having played four games on the spin in front of a home crowd, the Blues were on their travels last weekend as they drew 2-2 with Premier League bottom dwellers Sheffield United. It was a result that arrived just days after their highest point of the 2023/24 campaign, depicting their woeful inconsistency this term.

Chelsea have a FA Cup semi-final on the horizon, but this is a season that many supporters just want to get out of. A second succssive mid-table finish appears inevitable and Everton are desperate for all three points on Monday.

Here's how the Blues could line up for their upcoming fixture under the lights.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Everton (4-2-3-1)
Noni Madueke
Madueke was on the scoresheet at Bramall Lane / Visionhaus/GettyImages
GK: Dorde Petrovic - Having usurped Robert Sanchez in the depth chart, Petrovic has endured a difficult couple of weeks but he's set to continue between the sticks on Monday.

RB: Malo Gusto - Gusto has impressed in spurts this season and is a sure bet to continue in the side with Reece James still out of action.

CB: Thiago Silva - Silva was brought back in from the cold last weekend as he scored at Bramall Lane. Chelsea have been a disaster defensively in 2024 and the return of the Brazilian isn't likely to fix their woes.

CB: Trevoh Chalobah - With Axel Disasi a doubt and Benoit Badiashile forgetting how to defend, Poch will likely partner Silva with academy graduate Chalobah.

LB: Marc Cucurella - The chaotic Spaniard has been a regular as of late in Ben Chilwell's absence. The Englishman hasn't featured since the March international break.

CM: Moises Caicedo - It's been a tough debut season for Caicedo, who perhaps would have benefitted from drifting in and out of the side amid periods of indifferent form. However, Chelsea's midfield injuries mean the Ecuadorian has been forced to play week in, week out.

CM: Conor Gallagher - Enzo Fernandez's status is in question for Monday's game, so we could see Gallagher drift into a deeper position alongside Caicedo.

RM: Noni Madueke - The Englishman's first full season in west London has been one of indifference, but he's found a bit of form in recent outings and deserves to keep his place in the side on Monday.

AM: Cole Palmer - Where would Chelsea be without him? Palmer followed up his hat-trick heroics in the dramatic 4-3 win over Manchester United with an assist at Bramall Lane, taking his Premier League goal contributions tally up to 25 for the season.

LM: Mykhailo Mudryk - Mudryk has found some liberation in a central role and has generally offered some promise in 2024. With Raheem Sterling doubtful, Mudryk could get the nod down the left.

ST: Nicolas Jackson - Having scored in three consecutive games just before the March break, Jackson has failed to score in his previous four outings. Chelsea's leading man could do with a goal on Monday night.

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