Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring his second, and winning, goal for Arsenal against Reading yesterday. (Reuters)
Agencies/London
Alexis Sanchez scored both goals as holders Arsenal squeezed past Championship side Reading 2-1 after extra-time at Wembley to reach the FA Cup final yesterday.
Sanchez put Arsenal in front but Gareth McCleary equalized for Reading before the Chilean won it in extra-time with a shot that squirmed under goalkeeper Adam Federici.
Aaron Ramsey should have won it for Arsenal in the last minutes of normal time but his shot cannoned off the post from close range.
Sanchez put the Gunners ahead before half-time as he controlled Mesut Ozil’s fine pass and calmly shot low from inside the area.
Gareth McCleary then leveled the scoreline for the Championship side as Wojciech Szczesny failed to keep out his low volley.
Reading’s dominance was only temporary, however, as Adam Federici pulled off a magnificent save to divert Gabriel’s header onto the crossbar.
Ramsey missed a golden opportunity to win the game in normal time as he struck the post from inside the six-yard box. But despite his earlier
heroics, Federici’s fine display ended in disappointment in extra-time as he let Sanchez’s low drive slip under his body and trickle across the line.
