This weekend, the FA Cup kicks into the knockout round with quarterfinal action headlined by Manchester United taking on English Premier League rival Arsenal on Saturday. The only non-EPL team that remains in the competition is Reading and that team is in action against Manchester City on Sunday. We have your schedule of live FA Cup games on the Fox Soccer family of networks.
MANCHESTER UNITED-ARSENAL HEADLINE FA CUP QUARTERFINALS, LIVE AND IN HIGH DEFINITION MARCH 12-13 ON FOX SOCCER
Knockout Matchup at Old Trafford features Barclays Premier League’s Top Two Teams and the Two Winningest Clubs in FA Cup History
Los Angeles (March 8, 2011)– FOX Soccer’s comprehensive coverage of the world’s oldest knockout club soccer tournament (since 1871) continues as it televises all FA Cup quarterfinal matches live and in HD on FOX Soccer Channel and FOX Soccer Plus on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13.An FA Cup final-caliber matchup in its own right, Arsenal takes on Manchester United at ‘High Noon’ (ET) on Saturday, March 12 on FOX Soccer Channel. This grudge match pits the Barclays Premier League’s top two clubs, who have won a combined 21 FA Cup titles between them (Manchester United 11, Arsenal 10). The winner of this quarterfinal will be the odds-on favorite to claim yet another FA Cup.
FA Cup action kicks off on FOX Soccer Plus at 7:30 a.m. ET on March 12 as Birmingham City, fresh off of its shocking Carling Cup championship victory over Arsenal in Wembley Stadium on Feb. 27, continues its quest for its first FA Cup trophy and a historic double when it hosts four-time FA Cup champion Bolton.
On Sunday, March 13 Manchester City hosts English League Championship side Reading – the only non-Premier League squad left in the tournament – at 12:30 p.m. ET. Manchester City, third in the Premier League, won the last of its four FA Cups in 1969. Reading has never reached a FA Cup final and seeks to become the first club not in England’s top league to win the FA Cup since West Ham won in 1980.
Earlier that day, Stoke City hosts three-time FA Cup winner West Ham at 10:00 a.m. ET. West Ham was the first club to defeat Manchester United this season with a 4-0 Carling Cup quarterfinal triumph on Nov. 30. Like Reading, Stoke City is hoping to accept the tournament’s Cinderella role and reach its first FA Cup final. Below is a complete schedule of FA Cup quarterfinal telecasts.
Saturday, March 12
ManchesterUnited vs. Arsenal 12:00 p.m. ET FOX Soccer Channel*
BirminghamCity vs. Bolton 7:40 a.m. ET FOX Soccer Plus*Sunday, March 13
ManchesterCity vs. Reading 12:30 p.m. ET FOX Soccer Channel*
Stoke City vs. West Ham 9:55 a.m. ET FOX Soccer Plus** Denotes live telecast; home teams listed first.
In the event that any FA Cup Quarterfinal ends in a draw, the replay will air on either FOX Soccer Channel or FOX Soccer Plus.
And I’ll do one more press release post before heading to links and maybe a column as well.
