Andoni Iraola eyes Wembley chance as Bournemouth march on in FA Cup

It's after the Cherries beat Wolves 5-4 in the fifth round

Author: Alice Smith / George Sessions, PAPublished 2nd Mar 2025

Andoni Iraola has set his sights on a trip to Wembley after Bournemouth booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals for only the third time in their history.

A rollercoaster encounter with Wolves at Vitality Stadium went the way of the Cherries as they triumphed 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Evanilson's 30th-minute opener for the hsots was followed by an eight-minute VAR review to rule out a Milos Kerkez effort after the semi-automated offside technology system failed.

A second-half wonder goal by Matheus Cunha sent the tie to extra-time before he was sent off for a moment of madness as he clashed with Kerkez.

The hosts were on the brink in the shoot-out when Dean Huijsen had their fourth spot-kick saved, but Matt Doherty missed and Boubacar Traore then hit the crossbar to allow Luis Sinisterra to send Bournemouth through and continue their impressive campaign.

Irola has cup pedigree having guided Mirandes and Raya Vallecano to the Copa del Rey semi-finals against the odds in Spain and he has promised his seventh-placed side will give everything to reach the last four of the FA Cup.

"I have one step more. If I want to say the same, I need another step and also the reward. If you do another step, it is very big in the FA Cup because you play at Wembley," Iraola said.

"It's a goal personally and collectively. We know it's going to be difficult because in the last eight you are going to face a very good team that has also done well in the cup, but we will definitely give everything to reach the semi-final."

Bournemouth were deserved winners after having 31 shots and dominating possession against a Wolves team seemingly happy to soak up pressure.

Fit-again Evanilson marked his return from a broken metatarsal with a goal on his first start and Iraola expects the forward to improve with more training after a two-month lay-off.

He added: "I think he probably played better than we expected. It's been clear we haven't trained this week because we've had a week where we played three games, very demanding and so he hasn't had the chance to have quality training.

"It is good the first start he has, he scores a goal. He also played very well and played quite freely without thinking about the injury. It is good."

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira promised to speak to talisman Cunha after he was sent off for appearing to try to punch, kick and headbutt Kerkez in the 119th minute.

Pereira said: "When you have a problem with your wife, I say to my wife in this moment I am nervous, you are nervous and it is better to speak tomorrow. To sleep and to speak tomorrow. This is what we must do in football.

"I need to watch the match again and analyse. When we are calm after one day, we will talk together and no problem. We will solve the problem.

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