Coventry will return to Wembley where they were beaten by Luton in the Championship play-off final last season
Coventry City stunned Wolverhampton Wanderers to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for only the second time in their history thanks to two stoppage-time goals at Molineux.
The Championship side led through Ellis Simms’ strike until the 83rd minute before falling 2-1 behind after Wolves’ own dramatic comeback.
But Simms scored again to equalise in the 97th minute and Haji Wright curled in three minutes later to spark wild celebrations.
Mark Robins’ men thought their dreams of becoming the first team from outside the top flight to win the FA Cup since 1980 had been dashed when Rayan Ait-Nouri and substitute Hugo Bueno struck in the final seven minutes in response to Simms’ controversial opener.
But from nowhere, Simms got his second when he turned home Bobby Thomas’ flick at the far post.
Then, with the stadium preparing for extra time, Simms found Wright with a neat lay-off before the 25-year-old found the bottom corner, giving Jose Sa no chance.
Robins and his backroom team raced on to the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate his side booking a return to Wembley, where they were beaten by Luton in last season’s Championship play-off final, and where they famously defeated Tottenham in 1987 to win the FA Cup.
Superb Simms the difference
It was hard to deny Coventry their victory, even if the manner of it took the breath away. The visitors were purposeful from the first minute and their play had conviction, when their opponents were ponderous.
And in former Everton striker Simms they had a real threat.
The 23-year-old’s speed and strength is a major asset even if his dexterity leaves something to be desired, as shown in the first half when he somehow managed to send a side-footed effort straight at Sa when he had half a goal to aim at.
Simms, an £8m summer signing, has a goalscorers’ instinct though.
He seized the opportunity to put Coventry ahead with the goal eventually awarded after a long video assistant referee check for a potential handball.
Then, in what felt like the dying embers of a contest his side seemed destined to lose, he was in virtually the same position at the far post to drag his side level.
Simms had the strength to hold off the Wolves defence and ensure Wright had enough time and space to pick his spot for the winning goal.
It was a shattering moment for Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, who must have gone into the nine minutes of stoppage time believing his injury-hit side had saved themselves.
Ait-Nouri in particular did not deserve to be on the losing side.
In a team missing Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha, the Algerian was Wolves’ major attacking weapon.
He hit the post with a header as Wolves searched for an equaliser at 1-0 down, then finished neatly after pouncing on Joel Latibeaudiere’s mis-control.
Bueno thought he had won it with his first senior goal as he applied a smart finish after Coventry’s defence had opened up to invite him to run at them.
Simms had other ideas.
More to follow
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
1 Sa
23Kilman4Bueno24Gomes
22 Nélson Semedo 8 João Gomes 20 Doyle 3 Aït-Nouri
21Sarabia63Fraser5Lemina
1Sá23Kilman4Bueno24GomesSubstituted forDohertyat 60’minutes22Nélson Semedo8João Gomes20DoyleSubstituted forBuenoat 73’minutes3Aït-NouriBooked at 7mins21SarabiaBooked at 81mins63FraserSubstituted forChiwomeat 60’minutes5LeminaSubstitutes2Doherty6Traoré14Lemina17Bueno25Bentley37Holman45Barnett62Chirewa84Chiwome
Coventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
40Collins
22Latibeaudiere4Thomas15Kitching21Bidwell
14Sheaf28Eccles
27van Ewijk45Palmer11Wright
9Simms
40Collins22LatibeaudiereSubstituted forTavares Desidérioat 90+3’minutes4Thomas15Kitching21Bidwell14Sheaf28EcclesSubstituted forTorpat 90+3’minutes27van Ewijk45PalmerBooked at 90minsSubstituted forO’Hareat 70’minutes11Wright9SimmsSubstitutes2Binks3Dasilva6Kelly10O’Hare13Wilson24Godden29Torp30Tavares Desidério54Andrews
Referee:Samuel Barrott
Attendance:31,262
2024-03-16 14:51:03
#Wolves #Coventry #Haji #Wright #scores #100thminute #winner #Cup #classic
