Feb 26, 2024 at 10:40 PM Update: 6 hours ago
The fairy tale of little Maidstone United in the FA Cup came to an end on Monday. Coventry City was too strong for the sixth division club 5-0 in the eighth finals of the most important English cup tournament.
In front of more than 32,000 spectators – Maidstone is absolutely not used to such a number – it was already 3-0 halfway through for Coventry, which plays in the Championship. Striker Ellis Simms scored all the goals. In the final minutes of the match, Fabio Tavares scored twice more.
It was the first time in 46 years that a club from the sixth English division had reached this stage in the FA Cup. In 1978, Blyth Spartans were the last sixth division club to reach the round of 16.
At Maidstone, Manny Duku was a Dutchman in the starting line-up. The striker with Ghanaian roots was born in Amsterdam. He signed with the club from the town southeast of London a month ago.
Maidstone United had eliminated two professional clubs on their way to the eighth finals with Stevenage and Ipswich Town. “We are the Hercules of England,” Duku said to NU.nl in the run-up to the match with Coventry.
Coventry, where former Eredivisie player Milan van Ewijk came on, qualified first for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea, among others, are still in the tournament.
Maidstone United supporters fervently believed in a new stunt. Photo: Getty Images
- 26 Feb 2024 at 1:00 p.m
Dutch Maidstone United striker Duku: ‘We are the Hercules of England’
Beeld: Getty Images
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2024-02-26 21:40:26
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