English FA Cup Sixth round replay: Tranmere - 1 Millwall - 2 Former Sunderland striker Danny Dichio last night helped set up a meeting against his former club in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
Dichio had a hand in both Millwall goals at Prenton Park as the First Division side secured a place in the last four for the first time in 67 years.
It is a remarkable achievement by a club turned around by player-manager Dennis Wise in this his debut season. He took over in November, a month after arriving as caretaker when Mark McGhee was shown the door. Not only have they reached the semi-finals, they are also pushing for promotion.
Goals from Tim Cahill and Neil Harris in the opening 15 minutes proved decisive in a thrilling quarter-final replay. The Second Division club pulled a goal back through Gary Jones but it is Millwall who will face Sunderland at Old Trafford on April 4th.
The London club made the breakthrough in the 11th minute when Cahill found the corner after Dichio had flicked the ball on. It was a cool finish from the Australian and just the boost Wise's side needed.
Millwall added a second in the 15th minute and again Dichio was involved in the build-up. He laid the ball into the path of Harris on the edge of the area and he steered a glorious volley beyond goalkeeper John Achterberg.
Tranmere goalkeeper Achterberg pulled off a stunning save in the 21st minute, turning away a goal-bound header from the dangerous Dichio. He got on the end of a deep cross from Paul Ifill and seemed certain to score, only for the Dutch shot-stopper to come to the home side's rescue.
Ifill was finding room to work and cut inside after 31 minutes only to send his effort over the top. Tranmere, however, were thrown a lifeline five minutes before the break when Jones pulled a goal back.
Iain Hume created an opening out of nothing on the right after being shadowed by Robbie Ryan. He delivered a superb cross onto the head of Jones, who made no mistake from inside the six-yard area.
That goal five minutes before the break gave Tranmere a lift and manager Brian Little decided to keep things as they were at the start of the second half.
Ryan Taylor got away down the right for Tranmere after 47 minutes, only to see his cross cut out by on-loan goalkeeper Andy Marshall. Millwall struck back and Achterberg pulled off another save from Dichio.
The home side were beginning to play with some confidence despite going into the match on the back of four straight defeats. A shot from Tranmere defender Gareth Roberts was then deflected to safety.
Darren Ward, however, got away from his marker to power in a header from a Ryan free-kick that Achterberg saved comfortably.
Eugene Dadi replaced David Beresford in the 74th minute and almost pulled Tranmere level two minutes later, his shot going narrowly wide.
The home side kept pushing forward but Millwall held out and will now face First Division rivals Sunderland with a place in the final against either Arsenal or Manchester United at stake.
TRANMERE: Achterberg, Connelly, Allen, Goodison, Taylor, Roberts, Harrison, Mellon, Beresford (Dadi 73), Jones, Hume. Subs Not Used: Howarth, Sharps, Loran, Nicholson. Booked: Jones, Hume. Goals: Jones 41.
MILLWALL: Marshall, Muscat, Lawrence, Ward, Ryan, Ifill (Elliott 77), Cahill, Livermore, Roberts, Harris, Dichio (Sutton 82). Subs Not Used: Gueret, Sweeney, Dunne. Booked: Muscat, Livermore, Sutton. Goals: Cahill 11, Harris 16.
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).
