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da dobrowin： Watford progressed to the FA Cup final at Wolves’ expense and they largely have super-sub Gerard Deulofeu to thank – the Spaniard came off the bench after Raul Jimenez doubled the Midlands outfit’s lead and completely changed the game with a moment of sheer brilliance.
The former Barcelona man picked his head up and what he did next stunned everyone inside Wembley Stadium – the winger audaciously lobbed a helpless John Ruddy and gave the Hornets fans the glimmer of hope which would soon be turned into a real opportunity after Troy Deeney equalised from the spot with seconds to go.
The Vicarage Road outfit would go on to win, with Deulofeu scoring his second – a feat that has landed him in Garth Crooks’ team of the week. Here’s what the BBC pundit had to say:
“I don’t think I’ve seen such a beautifully executed goal in an FA Cup semi-final before. Gerard Deulofeu’s goal to put Watford back in the game against Wolves was a thing of beauty.
“What I don’t get with Deulofeu is how he can be so sublime one game and so painfully ordinary the next. The Spaniard came on, played for 46 minutes and walked off having suffered a knock.
“I find Deulofeu as frustrating as he can be devastating. I didn’t want to select him – but he’s just got his team to the FA Cup final. I don’t think I have a choice.”
Wolves Fan TV place the blame for Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final collapse on John Ruddy in the video below…
Indeed, the speedster’s first strike was surely up there with some of the competition’s best, although Crooks was almost pained to choose him alongside Jamie Vardy and Mohamed Salah, pointing to the fact that the only reason he made the XI was because of what his brace gave Watford – a shot at Manchester City in the final.
While Deulofeu has been largely a dependable player for Javi Gracia, the pundit isn’t far wrong – the number 7 has games where he looks unplayable and others where he looks apathetic but, fortunately for Watford, his latest outing was one of the former.
Having bagged nine goals and chalked up five assists in 29 appearances this campaign, the 25-year-old is relishing his new, more advanced role, although he will clearly have to do a lot more to convince Crooks that he is a top player.