Second-tier Coventry City will play in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley Stadium after shocking Premier League Wolves at Molineux with Haji Wright’s curled winner 10 minutes into added time.
The hosts looked to have avoided an upset and inflicted a cruel late defeat on the underdogs with an 83rd-minute Rayan Ait-Nouri equaliser and Hugo Bueno’s finish to put them 2-1 ahead five minutes later.
Extra time seemed certain when Simms nodded in from Bobby Thomas’ flick seven minutes into added time, only for Wright to ensure there was no need for another 30 minutes with a glorious strike from the left of the penalty area which beat Jose Sa at the goalkeeper’s far post.
Simms, who scored a hat-trick in the Sky Blues’ 5-0 hammering of non-league Maidstone United in the previous round, had bundled Liam Kitching’s header from Joel Latibeaudiere’s cross over the line to give City a deserved 53rd-minute lead, the effort standing after a lengthy VAR review concluded the ball had not hit the forward’s arm.
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Wolves vs Coventry result: City sensational
Coventry have spent much of their history in the top flight and won the FA Cup in 1987 but few days in the club’s 141 years of existence have matched the remarkable drama of this result, which is partly a reward for the fans who have persisted despite a more troubled recent past including spells playing home games outside of the city.
With 24 shots on goal and 12 of the 17 on target, it was also no fluke for a team who lost last season’s Championship play-off final and have hit form during the second half of the campaign to enhance their hopes of another top-six finish.
“YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT! @Coventry_City ARE HEADING TO WEMBLEY!” 🤯@HajiWright wins it with virtually the last kick of the game!#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/0CLqaEcitA
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 16, 2024
Mark Robins’ players spurned a succession of presentable chances to double their initial lead, with Sa parrying shots from Josh Eccles and Wright in quick succession before Kasey Palmer’s audacious lob from the edge of the penalty area beat the home goalkeeper and dropped narrowly wide.
Ait-Nouri, who had hit a post with a header as Wolves pushed to make it 1-1, capitalised on Latibeaudiere’s failure to clear a cross to volley his side level seven minutes from time, and the Algeria wideman’s electric run then set up substitute Hugo Bueno to slot in, opening his account for the club in what appeared to be a crushing punishment of Coventry’s wastefulness.
Just when Wolves manager Gary O’Neil might have been feeling relief at the prospect of progressing in nerve-jangling fashion, Thomas’ deft intervention allowed Simms to stoop and send the away fans into raptures.
SIMMS LEVELS IT LATE!
What a cup tie!#ITVFootball | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/xLTDTT4dN0
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 16, 2024
That became dreamland when 15-goal top scorer Wright picked up Simms’ short pass and expertly guided in the classy decisive goal of an astonishing contest, with the characteristically calm Robins jumping for joy as Coventry’s suitably wild celebrations began.
Eighth in the Premier League, Wolves’ excellent season had offered little indication that they would be susceptible to a defeat in this manner against opponents 19 positions below them in the league.
Coventry could be drawn against the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United or Newcastle when the draw for the final four is made on Sunday evening, while Championship leaders Leicester City are hoping to join them by winning at Chelsea earlier in the day.
