If Tuesday's action didn't really provide you with enough mouth watering football, then yesterday's action most certainly would have done as there were shocks galore. The first of three all Premiership ties was held at Villa park as Gerrard Houllier took charge of Villa for the first game as they took on Blackburn. The visitors took the lead through Gael Givet eleven minutes before half-time. However Villa fought back and substitute Emile Heskey equalised just before the hour mark. Heskey then provided a couple of assists that were turned in by Ashley Young on 75 and 77 minutes to give Houllier a 3-1 win on his debut.
Wigan were nearly involved in a shock at home to Preston; former Blackburn player Keith Treacy put Darron Ferguson's side ahead. But two late goals, first from Jordi Gomez after 87 minutes and then in stoppage time from Charles N'Zogbia saw Roberto Martinez's side just scrape through into the draw on Saturday.
Holders Manchester United had a shock start against Championship side Scunthorpe at Glanford Park. The home side set out the better side and took a shock lead after a great strike from Josh Wright just under twenty minutes. United started getting back into the game but still had to rely on Kuszczak to make a few good saves. Scunthorpe's lead only lasted four minutes as Darron Gibson scored a perfectly weighted lob and from there there was only going to be one winner. Chris Smalling scored his first Manchester United goal after flicking a Park cross past keeper Murphy. Michael Owen finished the game off with his first goal just four minutes into the second half and Park made it four after 54 minutes. Park was then denied a second after his shot was parried but the rebound was scored by Owen to make it 5-1. Arguably Scunthorpe's best player of the night Martyn Woolford earned a consolation goal in stoppage time to make the final score 5-2 to the holders.
The other three ties all finished as cup shocks as Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City all suffered defeats. Chelsea took an early lead against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, young Patrick Van Aanholt scored his first senior goal after six minutes. However the visitors went 3-1 ahead through Ranger after 27 minutes, Ryan Taylor five minutes later and Ameobi four minutes into the second half. Two goals from Nicolas Anelka after 70 minutes and then a penalty three minutes from time put Chelsea level and it looked like extra time. However a late injury to Benayoun saw Chelsea having to play with ten men and Ameobi scored the winner with a header to knock Ancelotti's side out.
Manchester City surrendered a 1-0 lead away to West Brom to also be knocked out; Jo scored after just under twenty minutes. Gianni Zuiverloon equalised after 55 minutes after Given pulled off some good saves. But Simon Cox gave west Brom the lead and the win just two minutes later.
The biggest shock however did come at Anfield as the cloud over Merseyside gets even darker. League Two side Northampton won 4-2 on penalties after first going behind early thanks to a Jovanovic goal after 9 minutes. Billy Mackay equalised after 57 minutes and the tie went into extra time. Northampton then did the unthinkable and took the lead thanks to Michael Jacobs eight minutes into extra time. Liverpool were rocking but substitute David Ngog did equalise four before full time but Liverpool were lucky not to go 3-2 behind shortly after as they managed to scramble a shot off the line. Penalty misses from Ngog and young Nathan Eccleston saw that Northampton become the only League 2 side into the fourth round.
No comments:
Post a Comment