Coventry City coughed up a two-goal lead at English Premier League side Wolves on Saturday, but used the late impact from Haji Wright to seal a spot into the FA Cup semifinals.
Wright scored in the 100th minute at Molineux as the Sky Blues defeated Wolves 3-2 in quarterfinal action on Saturday. The U.S. men’s national team forward helped seal a first FA Cup semifinal trip for Coventry since 1986-87.
After a goal-less first half, Coventry City broke the deadlock through Ellis Simms’ opening goal. Simms followed up a play in the Wolves box and finished nicely into the bottom corner.
However, Rayan Ait-Nouri would eventually lead a Wolves comeback by tying the match with six minutes to play.
Substitute Hugo Bueno would boost Gary O’Neill’s squad in front 2-1, finishing off Ait-Nouri’s pass for what looked to be the winning goal.
Coventry City did not lie down though, as Simms netted his second goal of the match in the 97th minute. Bobby Thomas’ flick-on pass was slotted home by Simms, making it 2-2.
With extra time looming, Wright delivered the eventual winning goal after a hardworking shift. Simms’ pass was curled home by the U.S. men’s national team forward for his 15th goal of the season across all competitions.
Coventry City would celebrate with its traveling support, knowing a second trip to Wembley Stadium in consecutive years is set to occur this April. Wright, who was not chosen for USMNT duty this month, has enjoyed a stellar first season in England.
Sky Blues manager Robins praised Wright’s game-winning goal, but also admitted his disappointment in his omission from international duty.
“Haji’s finish is incredible and that just shows the international quality that he has and I’m disappointed for him he’s not going away with the USA team this week, but that will come,” he said.
Coventry City has next week off due to the international break, but next travels to Huddersfield Town in EFL Championship play.
What an insane ending to that game…wow!
I think the Pepi, Folarin Jerry Balogun and Josh are going to have crush this camp if they want to hold this man off for a Copa spot. He snuck onto the WC roster and he just keeps scoring at club level – Championship, Turkey, Denmark…bagging ’em up consistently year in year out. Hard to deny him. The competition is tight at striker for the US – how great is that?!
Agreed. Also the fact he can play at RW and LW makes him that much more valuable.
Sarge also scores today and Pefok with an assist. Brendo with a start and a goal. This is why Gregg makes the big bucks.
Brendo starting to come back to life!
According to OptaJack Josh Sargent has the most goals 10, since Jan. 1 among the top 4 English divisions. (Haji 8, also impressive)
Vazquez is killing it at Monterrey too. I am quite sure if he keeps it up a Top-5 team will notice. He’d be the same kind of physical mismatch in La Liga as he would be in Liga MX and the fact that he speaks Spanish would be huge in terms of cultural acclimation. So many foreign players wind up as fish out of water despite their skills just because they can’t adapt to the language or culture.
Q: A couple limitations
– LigaMx doesn’t like to sell players especially at a loss. Rayados have only in their history sold 3 players for more than Vazquez’s 6.8 million
-Vazquez will be 26 in the fall finding a suitor willing to pay 8-10 million minimum that Brandon would be able to get regular minutes won’t be a large group, but it only takes one I guess. At 26 there won’t be a lot of resale value for a prospective buyer.
The last guy I can remember taking that path is Raul Jimenez. Atlético Madrid bought him from Club América for about €11 million back in 2014. eventually he made his way to Wolves. Since then it seems Liga MX isn’t sending so many guys to Europe. I haven’t seen a lot of Vazquez but I don’t know if he’s in the same class that Raul was when he was that age.
Raul was pretty hot shit.
Haji continues to step it up and is shining in a good league! I don’t understand how some can continue to try and diminish or trivialize his ability
Because the margins are small so it’s much easier to disparage than to breakdown the minute details that give one player an advantage over another.
Agreed
Great finish. He is having an excellent season.
wow, superb
he also played in the service for the tying goal
Nice. I’m sure Wright may get looks by some premier league teams this summer if Coventry don’t make it. Having an attacking player who can play all across the front line and play those positions in multiple formations is a nice player to have at your disposal.
2tone-
Yeah. His physique is going to help him a bunch too. The Prem is crazy physical but Haji would still be the baddest beast on the field even there; I just do not see even Prem players being eager to mix it up with him. Less physically stout players often get bullied off the field in England.
But all the ripped guns in the world don’t make you a good soccer player if you don’t have the skills. I’m still iffy on his touch – he does tend to brick the ball at times – but that was a Premier League-level finish, for sure.
Q: exhibit A Jozy Altidore
JR,
https://www.si.com/more-sports/2008/07/09/jozy-altidore
Jozy’s physique always impressed. And people forget how fast and direct he was.
But you need more than that. A lot more.