(Reuters) – Coventry City caused an upset as they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in a thrilling FA Cup tie at Molineux Stadium on Saturday. The Championship side secured their spot in the semi-finals for only the second time in the club’s history with two injury-time goals.
Wolves seemed to be on their way to Wembley after Rayan Ait-Nouri equalized Ellis Simms’ second-half goal, and Hugo Bueno put the home side ahead in the 88th minute.
However, Simms scored his second goal in the seventh minute of added time, and then Haji Wright netted the winner in the 10th minute of injury time. This dramatic turnaround sent Coventry fans, players, and staff into a frenzy of delight.
Simms’s brace made him the first Coventry player to score five goals in a single FA Cup campaign since Keith Houchen in 1986-87, the same year Coventry lifted the cup for the first time in their 140-year history.
“The fans have been amazing and we’re just delighted. I’m so proud of the lads. We’ve dug in, and even at 2-1 down we never gave up,” said Simms in an interview with ITV.
“It’s going to be a great occasion at Wembley. We want to go all the way. The next round will be tough against a top Premier League team but we will give it our all and go in with all guns blazing,” he added.
Coventry broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute from a free kick which Simms turned into the net, with the goal eventually being awarded after a lengthy VAR check for handball in the buildup.
Despite missing key players like Pedro Neto and others due to injuries, Wolves struggled to pose a threat until Ait-Nouri scored in the 83rd minute. Bueno then put them ahead five minutes later with his first senior goal, seemingly securing their spot in the semis.
But Coventry’s resilience shone through as Simms scored a crucial second goal, keeping their hopes alive, before Wright’s winning goal sent their supporters into a state of euphoria.
“There’s a lot of quality in our side and as long as we believe and keep trying, we can take our chances,” remarked Wright after the match.
“It’s amazing to make it to Wembley and it will be good fun for all of us. Hopefully we can enjoy it today and then get back to work,” he added.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
