|
|
FA Cup Round Up: Chelsea Held, City Trounced
Chelsea's Stamford Bridge woes continue as Southend become the latest recipients of late charity; Manchester City were hammered at home by Nottingham Forest and there were braces for Middlesbrough's Afonso Alves and Fulham's Andrew Johnson to help their respective sides to 2-1 wins...
Jan 3, 2009 11:22:03 AM
Southend United ensured a lucrative replay at home after ensuring a 1-1 draw against Chelsea in injury time at Stamford Bridge; Peter Clarke nodded home in the 91st minute to cancel out Salomon Kalou's first-half opener, but that did not tell the whole story. After dominating the Shrimpers all afternoon, Chelsea will feel aggrieved at having to do it all over again at Roots Hall, but the results represents further evidence of the Pensioners' diminished status at the Bridge. The knives could be out for Luiz Felipe Scolari, despite being forced to field a weakened line-up.
Elsewhere in the Elephants' Graveyard, Manchester City were sent packing at Eastlands after being trounced 3-0 by Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest. Nathan Tyson, Rob Earnshaw and Joe Garner settled the dispute in favour of the underdogs, who give Mark Hughes food for thought. What Wayne Bridge, signed for £10 million this afternoon, will have made of it all, we can only speculate.
Further to the shocks was Hartlepool's 2-0 win at home over a depleted Stoke City; the Monkey Hangers were handed the win through strikes from Michael Nelson and David Foley to condemn Tony Pulis' side another premature cup-exit this season.
Peterborough earned another crack at West Bromwich Albion after Craig Mackail-Smith struck a late equaliser to cancel out Jonas Olsson's opener for a 1-1 draw at London Road.
Robin van Persie, festooned with the captain's armband for the day, inspired Arsenal to a 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle. The Dutchman opened the scoring just after half-time and his strike was augmented by Nicklas Bendtner soon after. Karl Duguid immediately threatened an upset before van Persie made sure that the Gunners would be in the draw for the fourth round with his second five minutes from time at the Emirates.
There will be no cup fairytale this season for the vanquishers of Liverpool and Chelsea in last year's edition of the competition as West Ham United halted the progress of Barnsley at Upton Park. Herita Ilunga, Mark Noble and Carlton Cole secured a 3-0 win to please former FA Cup winner and Hammers' boss, Gianfranco Zola.
Everton's striker shortage could not prevent them from recording a 1-0 win over Macclesfied away from home; Leon Osman claims the goalscoring plaudits for the 1995 winners.
The all-Premier League tie between Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers finished 2-1 in favour of the Black Cats with Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse registering strikes. Ebi Smolarek halved the arrears for the Trotters but Ricky Sbragia's side progress nonetheless.
The other top-flight clash between Hull City and Newcastle United finished goalless, as did the tie involving last season's winners Portsmouth and Bristol City; they will replay.
Fulham go into the fourth round thanks to a brace from Andrew Johnson; the England striker struck twice to help his side to a 2-1 win away to Sheffield Wednesday, with Tommy Spurr threatening a replay before Johnson scored late on.
Afonso Alves got his Middlesbrough career back on track with a double against non-league Barrow, but the underdogs made it awkward by reducing the deficit to 2-1 late on through Jason Walker.
The pick of the non-Premier League ties saw Derby County record a 4-3 win away at non-league Forest Green in an old-fashioned FA Cup slobberknocker. Forest Green led three times before being eventually pegged back by Steve Davies' late spot kick to calm jitters at the manager-less Rams.
Elsewhere, last year's finalists Cardiff City kept their interest in the competition alive with a 2-0 win over Reading; Ross McCormack and Joe Ledley made sure of the win as Reading 'keeper Adam Federici failed to replicate his goalscoring exploits two weeks running against the same opposition.
--Peter Staunton, Goal.com
Elsewhere in the Elephants' Graveyard, Manchester City were sent packing at Eastlands after being trounced 3-0 by Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest. Nathan Tyson, Rob Earnshaw and Joe Garner settled the dispute in favour of the underdogs, who give Mark Hughes food for thought. What Wayne Bridge, signed for £10 million this afternoon, will have made of it all, we can only speculate.
Further to the shocks was Hartlepool's 2-0 win at home over a depleted Stoke City; the Monkey Hangers were handed the win through strikes from Michael Nelson and David Foley to condemn Tony Pulis' side another premature cup-exit this season.
Peterborough earned another crack at West Bromwich Albion after Craig Mackail-Smith struck a late equaliser to cancel out Jonas Olsson's opener for a 1-1 draw at London Road.
Robin van Persie, festooned with the captain's armband for the day, inspired Arsenal to a 3-1 win over Plymouth Argyle. The Dutchman opened the scoring just after half-time and his strike was augmented by Nicklas Bendtner soon after. Karl Duguid immediately threatened an upset before van Persie made sure that the Gunners would be in the draw for the fourth round with his second five minutes from time at the Emirates.
There will be no cup fairytale this season for the vanquishers of Liverpool and Chelsea in last year's edition of the competition as West Ham United halted the progress of Barnsley at Upton Park. Herita Ilunga, Mark Noble and Carlton Cole secured a 3-0 win to please former FA Cup winner and Hammers' boss, Gianfranco Zola.
Everton's striker shortage could not prevent them from recording a 1-0 win over Macclesfied away from home; Leon Osman claims the goalscoring plaudits for the 1995 winners.
The all-Premier League tie between Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers finished 2-1 in favour of the Black Cats with Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse registering strikes. Ebi Smolarek halved the arrears for the Trotters but Ricky Sbragia's side progress nonetheless.
The other top-flight clash between Hull City and Newcastle United finished goalless, as did the tie involving last season's winners Portsmouth and Bristol City; they will replay.
Fulham go into the fourth round thanks to a brace from Andrew Johnson; the England striker struck twice to help his side to a 2-1 win away to Sheffield Wednesday, with Tommy Spurr threatening a replay before Johnson scored late on.
Afonso Alves got his Middlesbrough career back on track with a double against non-league Barrow, but the underdogs made it awkward by reducing the deficit to 2-1 late on through Jason Walker.
The pick of the non-Premier League ties saw Derby County record a 4-3 win away at non-league Forest Green in an old-fashioned FA Cup slobberknocker. Forest Green led three times before being eventually pegged back by Steve Davies' late spot kick to calm jitters at the manager-less Rams.
Elsewhere, last year's finalists Cardiff City kept their interest in the competition alive with a 2-0 win over Reading; Ross McCormack and Joe Ledley made sure of the win as Reading 'keeper Adam Federici failed to replicate his goalscoring exploits two weeks running against the same opposition.
--Peter Staunton, Goal.com
Inside Goal.Com
-
EURO 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi and Van Persie named in Goal.com's dream team XI
Goal.com put together its dream team for this summer's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.