FA Cup Final Could Feature Surprise Outsider
Although the northern hemisphere soccer season is drawing to a close, the New Zealand sports betting community still has some iconic matches to punt on. These include the pinnacle of English football, the FA Cup Final at Wembley on May 27.
Just as Leicester City came out of nowhere to win their first-ever Premier League Championship last year, the 2016-17 FA Cup has seen not one, but two lowly clubs punching above their weight. Fifth-Division sides Lincoln City and Sutton United both made it to the fifth round with a series of upset victories, much to the delight of their supporters and the punters backing them.
Sadly for Sutton, Round 5 was as far as they got, after beating Leeds United, AFC Wimbledon, Cheltenham Town and Dartford in the previous rounds. The South London side met Highbury rivals Arsenal on Monday night, and the Gunners had no trouble securing their quarter-final spot with a 2-0 win.
Arsenal Plays Lincoln City in Quarter-Finals
Lincoln City finished fifth in the Second Division in the 1901-02 season, their highest position in English football over 133 years… until this season. Their progress to the 2017 FA Cup quarter-final has been a profitable betting adventure, considering they knocked out Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion, Ipswich Town, Oldham Athletic and Altrincham along the way.
Lincoln will now meet Arsenal in London for the March 11 quarter-finals, and they will attract a lot of attention as the fired-up underdogs with nothing to lose and everything to play for. In two other quarter-finals, Manchester United will travel to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea, with Tottenham Hotspur at home to Millwall.
Middlesborough is the only quarter-finalist still unsure of their next opposition. Manchester City and Huddersfield Town played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, so they will have to replay the match next Wednesday, February 28, to determine which of them will face the Yorkshire side on March 11.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ladbrokes |  | 5/5 | 100% Match up to $250 | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Betway | | 4.9/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now Review |
| 4 |  | Picklebet | | 4.6/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now Review |
More About Gary Hicks
When it comes to knowing what’s going on, on the track, field or any other sporting arena, Gary Hicks is your man. With an almost unrivalled passion for journalism, sports and betting Gary decided to combine his love of all 3 and share his expertise with the world.
In the last few years Gary has risen through the ranks and prides himself on always keeping a finger on the pulse of what’s hot and happening in the sports betting world. Gary is the resident news expert at OnlineBettingNZ.co.nz and his articles make for invaluable fodder for any avid punter.
You May Also Like:
Sala Under Huge Pressure Before Plane Crash
An inquest jury has reportedly now been informed of how pro-footballer Emiliano Sala had been put under immense pressure to complete a big-money transfer to the Premier League during the ….
Marc Overmars Quits Dutch Club Ajax
Ajax director of football Marc Overmars has quit after nearly 10 years. The former Arsenal, Ajax, and Barcelona winger has been accused by his club of having sent inappropriate text ….
New Study Shows Male Sexism In Football
An insightful new study claims more than 70% of male football fans have misogynistic attitudes and hostile feelings toward female players and athletes. The study was conducted by researchers at ….
Football’s Pelé Discharged From Hospital
It has now been confirmed that living football legend Pelé has been discharged from a month-long stay in hospital where he’s been receiving treatment following the removal of a tumour ….
New Annual Women’s Footy Tourney For England
England on Thursday announced an all-new annual women’s international football tournament set to run for at least the next three years. The four-team tournament will be handled on an invitational ….