Australians abroad: Brad Jones helps Liverpool into FA Cup final, Adam Federici's Reading close in on promotion

Liverpool's third-choice keeper held his own in the FA Cup semifinal although Tim Cahill was unusually outspoken about the Reds' chances in the final

Liverpool's third-choice keeper Brad Jones played his part as the Reds progressed to the final of the FA Cup after a 2-1 win over Tim Cahill's Everton on Saturday.

Jones played a full game in the win and held is own when called upon, although he did appear hesitant from high balls, and copped a verbal lashing from Steven Gerrard in the second-half.

The Australian keeper, who made his first start for the Reds since November 2010 due to suspensions to Pepe Reina and Doni, could do little about Nikica Jelavic's opener which came after Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger hesitated with the former's clearance rebounding off Cahill to the Croatian to put it away.

The Reds responded with second-half goals from Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll seeing them into the final and Jones celebrated the victory, although he admitted he's unlikely to play in the decider.

"That performance might be the last one I get but it's all about the club and making sure we get another trophy," he said after the game. "For me, I've come in and done a job when needed and I'm proud of that, proud to be a Liverpool player. Whatever else is a bonus."

Meanwhile, Cahill stirred the pot by claiming he expects Liverpool to struggle in the decider.

"I think it's going to be difficult for them. They've had an indifferent season and they've just got away with it today," he told reporters. "A few decisions didn't go our way but I'll just say they've got a lot of work to do."

In England's Championship on Friday, Adam Federici helped Reading navigate an early onslaught from Southampton, before claiming a top-of-the-table clash 3-1 to all but seal promotion to the top flight.

Federici made fine early saves from Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana efforts, before Reading ran out winner with Adam Le Fondre scoring twice late on. The win has Reading three points clear at the top ahead of Southampton with three games to play. Third-placed West Ham are six points behind the Royals.

England
Vince Grella (Blackburn): Out injured (hip/thigh) as his side lost 3-0 at Swansea.
Chris Herd (Aston Villa): Out injured (concussion) as his side lost 4-0 away to Manchester United.
Mark Schwarzer (Fulham): Not scheduled to play this weekend.
Ryan Williams (Fulham): Same as above.
Richard Garcia (Hull City): Started and played 75 minutes in attack, after filling in in defence in midweek, as his side drew 1-1 with Watford.
Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace): Out injured (groin) for his side's 1-1 draw with Ipswich.
Neil Kilkenny (Bristol City): Was a 90th-minute substitute in his side's 2-2 draw away to Birmingham City where they blew a two-goal lead.
Paddy Kisnorbo (Leeds United): Out injured (knee) as his side defeated Peterborough 4-1.
Shane Lowry (Millwall): Put in a full shift as his side secured their Championship status with a 2-1 victory over Leicester.
Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough): Played a full game in attack, pushing wide a first-half chance as Boro claimed a 1-0 victory over Derby County.
Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough): Out injured (ankle) in the win at Derby.
Dean Bouzanis (Oldham): Played a full game in the 2-2 draw with Wycombe.
Alex Cisak (Oldham): Out injured (shoulder) for the Wycombe draw.
James Wesolowski (Oldham): Out injured (shoulder) for the Wycombe draw.
Bailey Wright (Preston): Put in a full shift in the 1-0 victory over Huddersfield.

Germany

STAR OF THE WEEKEND

Adam Federici

Has been one of the keys to Reading's stunning season, and made more excellent saves in the win over title contenders Southampton

Mitchell Langerak (Borussia Dortmund): Was an unused substitute in his side's 2-1 win at Schalke which all but sealed the Bundesliga title.
Mathew Leckie (Borussia Monchengladbach): Was absent due to injury as his side won 3-0 over Koln.
Nikita Rukavytsya (Hertha Berlin): Played a full game and provided an assist for Tunay Toran's 71st-minute goal, in the 3-3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Rukavytsya's assist was a low cross from the left for Toran.
Robbie Kruse (Fortuna Dusseldorf): Scheduled to play on Monday against Dynamo Dresden.

Netherlands
Jason Davidson (Heracles): Put in a full shift in defence in the 1-1 draw with RKC Waalwijk.
Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar): Out injured (buttock) for the 3-2 loss to PSV Eindhoven, which sees AZ fall six points behind leaders Ajax.
Tommy Oar (FC Utrecht): Was an 89th-minute substitute in the 4-2 win over VVV Venlo.
Adam Sarota (FC Utrecht): Was an unused substitute in the victory over VVV Venlo.
Michael Zullo (FC Utrecht): Wasn't in the matchday squad for the Venlo win.

Italy
Carl Valeri (Sassuolo): Game with Torino on Monday was postponed after the death of Pescara's Piermario Morosini on Monday.

Russia
Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow): Played a full game in defence as his side won 1-0 over Anzhi Makhachkala.

Scotland
Ryan McGowan (Hearts): Played a full shift in defence as Hearts reached the Scottish Cup final with a stunning 2-1 win over Celtic.
Aaron Mooy (St Mirren): There was no SPL action this weekend.

Denmark
Nathan Coe (SonderjyskE): Kept a clean sheet which included some fine early saves as his side won 4-0 at Lyngby.
Brent McGrath (Brondby): Out injured (hand) for the 2-0 loss at Horsens.

Switzerland
Scott Chipperfield (FC Basel): Out injured (groin) for the 2-1 Swiss Cup semifinal win over Winterthur.

Austria
James Holland (Austria Vienna): Was an unused substitute in the goalless draw with Rapid Vienna.

Japan
Alex Brosque (Shimizu S-Pulse): Put in a full shift in the 3-2 victory over Jubilo Iwata.
Joshua Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus): Out injured (back) in the 3-1 win over Consadole Sapporo.
Jade North (Consadole Sapporo): Played a full game in the loss to Nagoya which leaves his side bottom of the table.
Matt Spiranovic (Urawa Reds): Absent as his side moved up to second with a 2-0 win over Vissel Kobe.

Korea
Eddy Bosnar (Suwon Bluewings): Started and played 82 minutes in the 1-0 win over Daegu FC. Suwon remain top of the K-League.
Nathan Burns (Incheon United): Was absent in the 1-0 loss to Sangju Sangmu.
Robbie Cornthwaite (Chunnam Dragons): Returned from a minor groin problem to play a full game in the 2-2 draw with Gwangju.
Luke DeVere (Gyeongnam FC): Absent in the 2-0 home loss to Gangwon FC.
Matt McKay (Busan I'Park): Absent for the goalless draw with Jeonbuk Motors.
Adrian Madaschi (Jeju United): Out injured (thigh) for the 3-2 win at Pohang Steelers which keeps his side in second.
Sasa Ognenovski (Seongnam Ilhwa): Out injured (hamstring) as his side won 1-0 at Daejeon Citizen.
Matt Simon (Chunnam Dragons): Absent for the 2-2 draw with Gwangju.

China
Dino Djulbic (Shaanxi Chanba): Helped his side keep a clean sheet with a full shift in defence in the 0-0 draw away to Changchun Yatai.
Joel Griffiths (Shanghai Shenhua): Was an unused substitute in Nicolas Anelka's first game as player-coach in Jean Tigana's absence, as his side went down 1-0 at home to Tianjin Teda.
Rostyn Griffiths (Guangzhou R&P): Scored a 70th-minute winner with a close-range header as his side defeated Dalian Shide 1-0. Griffiths played a full game in the win.
Mile Sterjovski (Dalian Aerbin): Played a full 90 minutes in the 1-0 victory over Henan Construction. Sterjovski saw a 70th-minute volley go narrowly over the crossbar.
Milan Susak (Tianjin Teda): Put in a full shift in the win over Shanghai Shenhua.

Uzbekistan
David Carney (Bunyodkor): Played 54 minutes as his side lost 2-1 to Navbahor.

UAE
Mark Bresciano (Al Nasr): Returned from injury as a half-time substitute in his side's 2-2 draw with Bani Yas.
Lucas Neill (Al Jazira): Was rested as his side kept alive their title hopes with a 2-0 win over Al Shabab.

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