Tranmere Rovers 1 - 2 Millwall

Tranmere 1-2 Millwall

Updated: March 16, 2004, 5:04 PM ET

Former Sunderland striker Danny Dichio helped set up a meeting against his former club as his two assists gave Millwall a 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win against Tranmere.

Dichio had a hand in both Millwall goals as the First Division side secured a place in the last four for the first time in 67 years.

• Wise 'chuffed' with Cup win

Goals from Tim Cahill and Neil Harris in the opening 15 minutes proved decisive in a thrilling quarter-final replay at Prenton Park.

The Second Division club pulled a goal back through Gary Jones but it is Millwall who will face Sunderland at Old Trafford on April 4.

Millwall 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 suddenly 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 by Jones five minutes before the break had given Tranmere a massive lift and manager Brian Little decided to keep things as they were at the start of the second half.

Little must have been delighted by the resilience of his side after going two down in the first 15 minutes.

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 retaliated and Achterberg pulled off another stunning save from Dichio at the near post following a superb delivery by Ifill.

Tranmere full-back Taylor swung in a corner after 59 minutes that Millwall cleared with a bit of difficulty.

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 in a good spell of pressure.

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.

Wise 'chuffed' with Cup win

Following the final whistle Dennis Wise declared himself 'chuffed' after steering Millwall into the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

'This is fantastic,' he told Sky Sports

'It's great for the fans because the club haven't done anything like this for about 70 years - and the players have done well.

'Tranmere gave us a hell of a game though and put us under a lot of pressure.

'We should have won the game at their place - we shouldn't have been here tonight - but I'm chuffed to bits at the way it went.'

Wise continued: 'We wanted to win it so badly as a group.

'We felt we had a chance and did not want to throw it away.

'When Tranmere scored it became very difficult and they put a lot of pressure on us - but it's our night and we've won.

'I'm enjoying it at Millwall with Ray (Wilkins) and the bunch of lads I've got.

'They make me smile every morning - have a pop at me and a joke with me.

'I like the atmosphere to be nice - and it is - and I've got a lot of good footballers here as well.'

Harris said: 'We knew it would be tough but we got the job done for the little man (Wise) and for the fans - and we've got a day out for us.

'I think it's my first goal from outside the box with my left foot in my career - in fact the goals have been a bit slow coming this year for me.'

As for the clash against Sunderland, who Millwall have done the double over in league play this season, he added: 'We'll fancy beating each other - it's a great advert for the Nationwide League and hopefully we'll do what we've done against them twice in the league this season.'

Cahill praised Wise's contribution to life at the New Den, adding: 'He's brought charisma, character and aggression to us and he's honest and treats us well.

'Tonight is unbelievable - the game meant so much to us, the fans and Ray.

'We've come a long way now but we want to keep moving forward and get as far as we can in the cup.'

Tranmere boss Brian Little said: 'I thought we fell asleep for the first goal, then they got the second which was a great strike - and then it was always an uphill task from then on for us.

'We got a goal which gave us a chance - but then we couldn't get the good chance we needed.

'We only had half-chances with balls bobbling around in the box when we needed one good chance.

'But I can't ask for anything more. We've done ourselves proud and made a good game of it - that's the main thing.

'But obviously we're disappointed. We genuinely felt we had a chance before the game.

'It was a little bit scrappy in the second half and I thought we were too direct - not swinging it from side to side and getting behind them as much as we should have.

'The occasion maybe got to us a little bit.

'It would have been good to get further but hopefully we've put ourselves on the map and the players will learn from the occasion in the future.

'They'll want games like this to happen again - and as a player experiences like this make you better.'