Fabian Delph knocked home this second-half strike to give Aston Villa a 2-1 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup semifinals Saturday.
The win puts Aston Villa in the FA Cup final for the first time in 15 years, but the story here is the ruined victory lap for longtime Reds midfielder Steven Gerrard.
The Liverpool captain is leaving the team after this season for the MLS, where he will join the Los Angeles Galaxy. The FA Cup final is scheduled for May 30, the same day as Gerrard’s 35th birthday. The story had written itself: Gerrard would lead Liverpool to the final and one last tournament win on his birthday before he rode off into the sunset for America.
But the Lions had other ideas. Their comeback win will pit Aston Villa against Arsenal for the FA Cup title.