De Gea kept us in the cup, admits Ferguson
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MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson hailed goalkeeper David de Gea after his superb late save against Chelsea kept the Premier League leaders in the FA Cup.
United led 2-0 after 11 minutes of Sunday's quarter-final but Chelsea hit back to level the score in the second half and the hosts were left hanging on in the dying stages.
Chelsea could have snatched a winning goal in the last minute of normal time, when Juan Mata cushioned a high ball and stepped inside Jonny Evans before blasting a shot at goal. However, De Gea intervened, spreading himself to divert the ball wide of his right-hand post and thereby keeping United in a competition they last won in 2004.
"It was a very good save," said Ferguson. "I saw the replay and it was terrific at a very important time, because there was no doubt we would be out if they had scored at that time." United had appeared to be cruising into the semi-finals after early goals from Javier Hernandez and the recalled Wayne Rooney put them in control on a wintry afternoon at Old Trafford.
