Evan Ferguson scored a brace as Brighton ended Grimsby’s fairy-tale FA Cup run on the quarter-final stage with a decisive 5-0 victory over League Two’s Fifteenth-placed aspect to arrange a last-four tie with Fulham or Manchester United.
Deniz Undav scored inside six minutes and 18-year-old Ferguson had standout afternoon, hitting two earlier than Solly March nodded within the fourth and Kaoru Mitoma sealed the Mariners’ destiny on the Amex Stadium.
Town had been simply the fifth tier-four workforce in competitors historical past to achieve this stage and had been hoping to perform what none had performed earlier than by beating their commanding Premier League opponents.
The Seagulls’ upcoming journey to the semi-finals will probably be simply their third and leaves them in rivalry to achieve their first trophy contest since 1983.
Grimsby Supporters – over 4,500 of them, many brandishing the Mariners’ signature inflatable Harry Haddocks – flocked to the Amex Stadium, the place dwelling supporters responded with plastic seagulls.
It was at all times going to be a troublesome ask of Town, who sit 76 locations decrease than Sunday’s opponents within the pyramid. Grimsby had crushed Southampton to get right here, however Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton, with their eyes on Europe, had been a unique calibre.
Ferguson examined Max Crocombe inside the primary two minutes with a low strike from simply inside the realm, which the visiting goalkeeper coolly stooped to gather.
Grimsby loved a short spell within the hosts’ half earlier than Brighton had been on the assault once more, patiently passing earlier than eyeing up the most effective alternative to web an opener.
Moises Caicedo thought that second was his when he fired a pointy low effort from centre however was as a substitute denied by Crocombe, who was there to make the save however fumbled the cease, permitting the awaiting Undav to pounce and bury the rebound inside six minutes.
The faculty of Mariners’ supporters had been undeterred, rising louder when their aspect earned a handful of inconsequential set-pieces, and Anthony Driscoll-Glennon put in an excellent sliding sort out to clear Mitoma’s effort from a decent angle – although it in the end regarded destined to go throughout the face of aim.
Crocombe blocked Undav’s try to nod in March’s cross as Albion remained on the assault, the hosts coming shut when Pascal Gross – from the suitable of the realm – despatched a supply to Mitoma on the far publish.
The Japan worldwide stretched out to toe the ball in however as a substitute directed it extensive from six yards out.
Several subsequent makes an attempt by way of Mitoma, Caicedo and Pascal Gross all failed to seek out the again of the online and the guests did effectively to interrupt up Mitoma’s run in added time to present themselves an opportunity after the restart.
Instead, the early likelihood fell to Brighton when March’s cross from the left flank clipped the left publish and the ball bounced to Undav, who misfired off his unfavoured left foot.
It was not lengthy, nonetheless, earlier than the hosts made it two. Alexis Mac Allister discovered Ferguson, his again to aim, who in a skilful transfer introduced the ball down together with his left foot, transferred it to his proper on the pivot and fired dwelling.
Ferguson accomplished his brace when he was slipped the ball by Undav, establishing the Republic of Ireland worldwide for a easy end as he directed the ball into the bottom-left nook.
March despatched a header previous Crocombe after 82 minutes, which regarded to seal the scoreline earlier than Mitoma ensured he was concerned in a aim in every of his 4 FA Cup appearances this season, firing dwelling Brighton’s fifth within the last minute of regular time.
