Football: Man Utd survive League Cup shoot-out, West Ham crash out

LONDON -- Manchester United survived a League Cup scare against third tier Rochdale as they won 5-3 on penalties, while West Ham suffered a shock 4-0 defeat at Oxford on Wednesday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's struggling side were held to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford after 16-year-old Luke Matheson scored a 76th minute equaliser following Mason Greenwood's opener for United eight minutes earlier.

With United in danger of a humiliating exit, they held their nerve in the shoot-out, winning 5-3 as Daniel James converted the decisive kick after Sergio Romero saved Rochdale's second penalty from Jimmy Keohane.

Although United avoided the embarrassment of losing to a team 17th in League One, the sloppy manner of their performance will raise fresh questions about Solskjaer's ability to inspire his side.

United are languishing in eighth place in the Premier League after Saturday's dismal 2-0 defeat at West Ham left them with just two wins from six games.

"We go 1-0 up and you think 'come on, get a second'. It's a learning curve," Solskjaer said.

"At this club we don't sit back and think that's good enough. That's not what we want here."

Liverpool eased to a 2-0 victory at third tier MK Dons as Harvey Elliott became the youngest player to start a competitive match for the club.

The 16-year-old put in an accomplished display and twice hit the crossbar as James Milner profited from terrible goalkeeping from Stuart Moore to put the Reds in front before Ki-Jana Hoever wrapped up the win.

Frank Lampard got a first home win as Chelsea boss under his belt as his youthful side thumped fourth division Grimsby 7-1.

Ross Barkley opened the floodgates and Michy Batshuayi struck twice.

- Chelsea kids shine -

There were also goals for Pedro, Kurt Zouma, Reece James and Callum Hudson-Odoi -- the England winger making his first appearance since suffering an Achilles injury in April.

Lampard handed debuts to four academy graduates as well as a first start for Billy Gilmour.

Gilmour was a stand-out performer in midfield and fellow rookies James and Marc Guehi also impressed.

"I'm pleased, some debuts and the young lads who came on improved the team which was nice. It's nice to get that first home win," Lampard said.

"I thought Gilmour ran the game from midfield. It says a lot about the academy, and nights like this give the opportunity to mix the team up and give them a chance."

At the Kassam Stadium, third tier Oxford reached the fourth round for the first time in 22 years thanks to a stunning victory against West Ham.

Second-half goals by Elliott Moore, Matty Taylor, Tariqe Fosu and Shandon Baptiste left West Ham shell-shocked.

Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini made nine changes and handed a full debut to academy graduate Nathan Holland, but the understudies weren't up to the task.

Max Power's superb 25-yard strike in the ninth minute fired third tier Sunderland to a surprise 1-0 win at Premier League side Sheffield United.

Bournemouth were the third Premier League club to crash out as third tier Burton -- semi-finalists last season -- won 2-0 in a match delayed three times by floodlight failure at the Pirelli Stadium.

Wolves beat second tier Reading 4-2 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw.

Debutant Bruno Jordao put Wolves ahead but Lucas Boye headed Reading level in the ninth minute of stoppage-time, setting up a shoot-out that the Premier League team won comfortably.

Aston Villa cruised to a 3-1 win at Brighton thanks to goals from Jota, Conor Hourihane and Jack Grealish.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Football: Man City win League Cup as Chelsea keeper defies Sarri

LONDON - Manchester City retained the English League Cup in a shootout after Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri's hopes of a long-awaited first trophy ended in bizarre fashion on Sunday with his keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga openly disobeying orders.

Raheem Sterling smashed home the decisive spot kick as City clinched the English season's first silverware 4-3 on penalties, with the Wembley showpiece having ended 0-0 after extra time.

The clash, the first between the clubs in a major final, had slowly warmed up, but took the most unlikely of twists deep into the extra period when Arrizabalaga saved from Sergio Aguero.

It appeared the young Spanish keeper had injured himself and Sarri immediately told substitute Willy Caballero to get ready to come on for the closing seconds as penalties loomed.

With his number being held up, Arrizabalaga refused to obey the call to depart, leaving Sarri fuming in the technical area.

At one point the raging Italian coach appeared to walk down the tunnel, before returning to brief his players for penalties.

Caballero still looked poised to take over but it was Arrizabalaga who stood guard in front of the Chelsea fans.

The Spaniard allowed Sergio Aguero's weak penalty to creep under his body into the net but then redeemed himself with a brilliant save from Leroy Sane leaving the shootout at 2-2.

Chelsea's David Luiz thumped his penalty against the post, however, to hand the advantage back to the Manchester side and, although Hazard scored, Sterling smashed his kick high past Arrizabalaga to send City's fans into delirium.

UNDER PRESSURE

Sarri began the match under pressure with his inconsistent side having lost five of their last 11 games, including a 6-0 thrashing at City in the Premier League and a 2-0 home loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round.

The United defeat provoked fury from Chelsea fans who have lost patience with the former Napoli manager's tactics.

A fortnight after the humiliation by Pep Guardiola's side's, Sarri's tactics were spot on as Chelsea stifled City's much-vaunted attack and created the better chances.

Had N'Golo Kante not blazed over after being teed up by Hazard's brilliant run midway through the second half, the headlines could have been about Sarri winning his first silverware after 29 years as a manager.

Instead, he was left answering questions about what looked like a blatant case of a player undermining his authority.

"I misunderstood the problem and only realised the situation when the doctor arrived at the bench," he said later.

"It was a big misunderstanding because I understood the keeper had cramp and was unable to go to the penalties. But it was not cramp and he could go to the penalties."

HARD WORK

City have now won the League Cup four times in six seasons and are second on the all-time list, with six titles, behind title rivals Liverpool who have won eight.

They had to work hard for it, though, with Guardiola correctly predicting before the match that Chelsea would be desperate to avenge their demolition at the Etihad.

"Chelsea have incredible quality and after the result two weeks ago we knew it would be more difficult," said Guardiola, who picked up his third major trophy for City and the 25th of a managerial career spanning three countries.

Asked if his side could claim four trophies this season, and surpass the treble he achieved with Barcelona in 2008-09, Guardiola added: "What we did in Barcelona is unique. This is new players, new club, now we will see how far we can go."

City dominated possession in the first half but only had a couple of Aguero attempts to show for it.

Chelsea were rejuvenated after that with Hazard coming to the fore against an increasingly uneasy City side.

Aguero did have a goal ruled offside and also had chances in extra time, but Chelsea had looked the more likely winners. 

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Man City down Leicester in Cup shootout, Burton through

LONDON - Holders Manchester City held their nerve to beat Leicester City 3-1 on penalties and reach the League Cup semi-finals after an entertaining last-eight tie ended 1-1 on Tuesday.

City's Oleksandr Zinchenko fired the winner in the shootout after hosts Leicester missed three of their four spot kicks.

City had taken the lead through Kevin De Bruyne's rifled finish early on but Leicester clawed their way back into the encounter with a brilliant finish from Marc Albrighton.

With no extra time in League Cup matches this season, the game went straight to penalties where Leicester's Christian Fuchs fired over, while James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu saw tame efforts saved by City keeper Arijanet Muric.

"In the end the keeper helped us," said De Bruyne. "He's got veins of ice. He did what he had to do in the shootout."

City will be joined in the last four by Nigel Clough's Burton Albion after the third-tier side shocked Championship (second-tier) team Middlesbrough with a goal from Jake Hesketh.

Manchester City and Leicester fielded heavily-changed sides although the visitors looked far more potent on paper with Sergio Aguero and De Bruyne returning to the starting lineup, having only just returned to action after injury.

FIRST BLOW

It was the Belgian playmaker De Bruyne who struck the first blow, showing delightful quick feet before firing a skidding shot from outside the area into the net at the near post.

City had a great chance to extend their lead early in the second half when Riyad Mahrez played Aguero in behind the defence but the Argentine's early shot was saved by Danny Ward.

The visitors were made to pay in the 73rd minute when Albrighton controlled a superb pass from Wilfred Ndidi then thrashed his finish into the far corner.

The Leicester fans had their hearts in their mouths when City appealed for a penalty with five minutes remaining as Gabriel Jesus looked to burst clear before Hamza Choudhury dived into a last-ditch tackle and just got a toe to the ball.

It was a brief reprieve as Pep Guardiola's side dominated the shootout with only Raheem Sterling failing to convert .

Burton reached the semi-finals for the first time in their history after Hesketh grabbed the only goal at 'Boro, slotting home a rebound from the edge of the area in the 48th.

The remaining quarter-final ties will be played on Wednesday when Arsenal host neighbours Tottenham Hotspur, while fellow London club Chelsea welcome south-coast side Bournemouth.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Magnificent Hazard ends Liverpool's 100 percent start

LONDON - The brilliance of Chelsea's Eden Hazard ended Liverpool's 100 percent start to the season as Maurizio Sarri's side enjoyed a 2-1 win at Anfield in the League Cup third round on Wednesday.

Liverpool have started with six wins in the Premier League and a victory in the Champions League but they were knocked out by a superb solo goal from Hazard in the 85th minute.

Former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge, who had earlier missed an open goal, put Liverpool in front in the 58th minute with an acrobatic volley after Willy Caballero parried out Naby Keita's drive.

Emerson levelled for Chelsea in the 79th, slotting home after Simon Mignolet parried out a Ross Barkley header from a free kick whipped in by Hazard.

The goal was reviewed by VAR but ruled as fair although Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp felt it should have been disallowed for offside.

Sturridge then struck the bar with a fine effort from distance but it was Chelsea who struck the decisive blow.

Belgian forward Hazard, a 56th-minute substitute, won the game with a devastating finish after a powerful run in from the flank, weaving past two Liverpool defenders behind before firing into the far corner.

"It's a fantastic goal. Not only the beauty of it but for the time he scored it," Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola said.

"Not only is he one of the best in the Premier League - if not the best - but he is one of the best in Europe and the world.

"In my opinion we haven't seen the best of him yet. He's remarkable," he added.

The two teams face each other at Stamford Bridge on Saturday in the Premier League.

Elsewhere, West Ham United hammered fourth tier (League Two) Macclesfield Town 8-0 for their biggest win since 1983.

Grady Diangana and Robert Snodgrass both scored twice as West Ham ripped apart the Cheshire side who are bottom of League Two without a win this season.

In an all-Premier League tie, Tottenham Hotspur progressed to the last 16 by beating Watford 4-2 on penalties after the game, played in Milton Keynes, ended 2-2.

Isaac Success had given Watford the lead in the 46th minute but Spurs looked to have grabbed the win thanks to a Dele Alli penalty in the 82nd minute and Erik Lamela's goal four minutes later.

But Etienne Capoue's 89th-minute drive took the game to penalties, only for Capoue and Domingos Quina to fail to convert their spot-kicks and Alli wrapped up victory for Spurs.

Danny Welbeck scored twice as Arsenal beat Championship Brentford 3-1.

After the former Manchester United striker put the Gunners 2-0 up, Alan Judge brought Brentford back into the game but Alexandre Lacazette made sure of the win for Arsenal.

In an all-Championship match, Nottingham Forest beat Stoke City 3-2 despite having Diogo Goncalves sent off 13 minutes from time.

(Reporting by Simon Evans, editing by Ed Osmond)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Man City thrash Arsenal to win League Cup final

LONDON - Pep Guardiola claimed his maiden English silverware as Manchester City thrashed Arsenal 3-0 in the League Cup final with Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva all on target in a disappointingly one-sided showpiece on Sunday.

The first meeting between the sides in a domestic final was no classic but Spaniard Guardiola will not care after his side's class eventually shone through at a freezing Wembley Stadium.

City, who will also win the Premier League title barring a monumental collapse, did not even have to hit top gear to lift the trophy for the third time in five years.

Aguero's 18th-minute goal gave City a halftime lead and Arsenal withered after the break as Kompany prodded in from close range after 58 minutes before Silva thumped home a left-footer seven minutes later.

Arsenal's fans left in droves in the final 20 minutes while City's fans decorated the stadium with sky blue.

After a trophy-less first season in charge of City, Guardiola's career major trophy haul as a manager stands at 19, having won 11 with Barcelona and seven at Bayern Munich.

"It's important. We're so happy, and a big congratulations to all of Manchester City, and our fans. This trophy is for Manchester City and not for me," Guardiola, whose side's bid for an unprecedented quadruple was wrecked by a shock FA Cup defeat by third-tier Wigan Athletic on Monday, said.

"The first half we were not good, there were a lot of mistakes, in the second half we played with a lot more courage and personality -- we were outstanding."

Arsenal have now lost a record six League Cup finals and it remains the only silverware manager Arsene Wenger has not won.

"We self-inflicted our punishment," he said. "We had an unbelievable chance at 0-0 and then gave them a goal."

Despite the 27 points separating the sides in the Premier League, Arsenal arrived at Wembley having won their last three domestic finals, all in the FA Cup.

LOST CAUSE 

Their pedigree in knockout play offered hope of some salvation for another disappointing league campaign, but from the moment Aguero opened the scoring it looked a lost cause.

For all City's dazzling football this season, the breakthrough came from an old-fashioned 70 metre hoof forward by City's keeper Claudio Bravo -- who had kept his place in favour of usual keeper Ederson.

Aguero got the better of Shkodran Mustafi all too easily and as the Arsenal defender stopped and appealed for a foul that never was, Aguero calmly advanced to dink a delicate finish over David Ospina as Laurent Koscielny tried to cover.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was in use for the first time in an English final and Wenger could have been excused for wanting to have a second look just to clarify how his side had been opened up in such schoolboy fashion.

Kevin de Bruyne volleyed into the side-netting before halftime but Arsenal barely conjured a chance apart from early on when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang somehow failed to beat Bravo from close range after Mesut Ozil's ball in.

City raised their level after the break and Arsenal lacked a chronic lack of belief that they could turn things around and win the trophy for the first time since 1993.

Kompany went close with a deflected effort and the next time the Belgian defender found himself in the Arsenal box, he poked out a leg to divert Ilkay Gundogan's low cross into the net.

When Silva buried a low shot past Ospina from Danilo's pass seven minutes later it threatened to get ugly for Arsenal.

They were spared further torment but the thousands of empty red seats behind Bravo's goal spoke volumes.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Fellaini helps United to 2-0 win over Hull in Cup semi

Manchester United turned frustration into jubilation as they planted one foot in the League Cup final after a late Marouane Fellaini header gave them a 2-0 win over Hull City in the first leg of their last four clash on Tuesday.

Juan Mata had given United the lead early in the second half, but their failure to kill off the tie when comfortably on top had left the home fans fearing a testing return encounter as the seconds ticked away at Old Trafford.

The hosts had spurned several chances to put the tie to bed, with Paul Pogba rattling the post, before substitute Fellaini gave Jose Mourinho's side some breathing space when he rose at the far post to head home with three minutes remaining.

The victory kept the Portuguese coach on course for a first trophy at the club and continued United's superb recent form with a ninth successive victory in all competitions, but the demanding Mourinho was far from satisfied with what he saw.


"I was a bit disappointed yes," he told Sky Sports.

"I think we were a bit sloppy, overcomplicating things, always delaying the decision, giving them time to regroup... In the second half we all improved a little bit, just a little bit."

INJURY CRISIS

In only his second game as Hull boss, fellow Portuguese Marco Silva had to deal with an injury crisis that left him with only 14 fit senior players and there was a makeshift look about them as United took control early on.

Mata drew an excellent save from Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic after two minutes, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan sidefooted wide after being set up perfectly by the Spaniard.

The visitors, whose injury woes got worse when Markus Henriksen went off after 19 minutes with a shoulder problem, did have arguably the best chance of the first half, however, when Adama Diomande headed against the base of the post.

Wayne Rooney, seeking to become United's outright record scorer, crashed a shot just wide five minutes after the break and was later substituted, but the deadlock was soon broken.

Antonio Valencia's deep cross to the far post was headed back across goal by Mkhitaryan and Mata ghosted in to volley home from close range.

United almost doubled their lead as Paul Pogba rattled the post with a free kick, but the frustration levels were rising until Belgian Fellaini came off the bench to make his mark and provide a cushion for the second leg on Jan. 26.

Southampton and Liverpool contest the other semi-final, with the first leg at St Mary's on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LEAGUE CUP: Manchester rivals win to tee up fourth round tie

LONDON - Manchester City continued their imperious start to the season with a 2-1 win over Swansea City to reach the fourth round of the League Cup on Wednesday but it was a testing night for rivals United who eventually overcame Northampton Town 3-1.

Holders City, who have won two of the last three League Cups, clinched a ninth straight win in all competitions under Pep Guardiola as goals from Gael Clichy and 19-year-old Aleix Garcia helped them through an all-Premier League encounter at the Liberty Stadium.

It was far less straightforward for United, who were pegged back and frustrated by third tier Northampton before goals from Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford wrapped up the win.

The two Manchester rivals were then paired against each other in the fourth round draw that also pitched Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United against Chelsea.

Tottenham made light work of third tier Gillingham, romping to a 5-0 victory, while West Ham needed a 96th-minute free kick from Dimitri Payet to beat Accrington Stanley 1-0.

City and United both began the season strongly but while Guardiola's side have gone from strength to strength United's good early form has disappeared and they came into the clash against Northampton on the back of three straight defeats.

City looked in control of their tie against Swansea from the start and took the lead when Clichy ended a flowing move with a right-footed effort four minutes after halftime.

When Garcia steered home Jesus Navas's cross midway through the second half the tie was effectively done and dusted although Swansea scored a stoppage-time consolation through Gylfi Sigurdsson.

It was a different story at Northampton's tiny Sixfields stadium, where United dominated the ball but looked edgy and nervous after Michael Carrick's powerful opener was cancelled out by Alex Revell's penalty just before halftime.

The home side then frustrated the visitors with a resilient defensive display until Herrera lifted the tension for United's travelling fans with a rifled effort from distance and Rashford capitalised on a goalkeeping blunder to walk the ball into the net.

"It was difficult as I was expecting but we looked to be in control for the first 35 minutes and then we looked to be in control for the last 45," United boss Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports.

Tottenham, who made 11 changes from the side that beat Sunderland on Sunday, brushed aside Gillingham with ease as Christian Eriksen opened the scoring with a stunning effort from distance and then doubled the lead.

Dutch striker Vincent Janssen netted his first for the club from the penalty spot and further goals Erik Lamela and Josh Onomah rounded off the romp against a Gillingham side managed by former Spurs player Justin Edinburgh.

West Ham, who have lost four of their five opening Premier League games, were locked in stalemate and heading for extra time against fourth division Accrington Stanley before Payet lined up a free kick deep into stoppage time.

The France international, who started on the bench, bent the ball over the wall to beat Accrington keeper Elliot Parish.

Charlie Austin and Jake Hesketh were on target for Southampton as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in an all-Premier League tie while Sunderland's Paddy McNair scored twice in a 2-1 win over Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

Hull City booked their spot in the next round after coming from behind to beat struggling Stoke City 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Markus Henriksen. Bristol City beat Fulham 2-1.

(Reporting by Toby Davis, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

LEAGUE CUP: Fabregas downs Leicester, Everton crash out

LONDON, United Kingdom -- Cesc Fabregas made an emphatic point to Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as his double sealed a 4-2 win at Leicester, while Everton and Bournemouth suffered shock third-round exits from the English Football League Cup on Tuesday.

Fabregas has been limited to three substitute appearances in the Premier League since Conte took charge over the summer, but the Spain midfielder proved he can still be a game-changer with an influential display capped by the decisive two goals in extra-time.

"I was happy to play from the start! Hopefully this will shut up a few journalists talking rubbish all the time," said Fabregas, who has been linked with a move away from Chelsea.

Elsewhere, second-tier Norwich spoiled Everton's impressive start to the season and inflicted Ronald Koeman's first defeat as Toffees boss with a 2-0 win at Goodison Park.

Bournemouth were the other top-flight casualties as second-tier Preston won 3-2 thanks to a hat-trick from Denmark striker Simon Makienok.

At the King Power Stadium, Shinji Okazaki put Premier League champions Leicester ahead in the 17th minute when the Japan striker punished terrible Chelsea defending to head home from close range.

Okazaki followed his first goal since March with a second in the 34th minute.

Gary Cahill reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time, the defender heading home after being left unmarked at the far post from a Fabregas corner.

The Blues equalized four minutes after the interval through Cesar Azpilicueta's blistering long-range effort.

Leicester had to play extra-time with 10 men after Marcin Wasilewski's 89th minute dismissal for elbowing Diego Costa and Fabregas made them pay, finishing a flowing move in the 92nd minute and drilling home again two minutes later.

Everton are second in the Premier League but Koeman made six changes and his stand-ins were brushed aside by promotion-chasing Norwich.

The Canaries went ahead when former Everton striker Steven Naismith slipped as he went to shoot and inadvertently lobbed the ball into the net.

Josh Murphy's superb strike from the edge of the area in the 74th minute completed the upset.

"I can't criticise the players. We played well but weren't clinical enough. The difference was Norwich were clinical with their two chances," Koeman said.

- Hat-trick hero -

At Dean Court, Makienok, who hadn't scored in his previous 19 appearances, gave Preston the lead in the 10th minute before Bournemouth equalised through Lewis Grabban's 53rd minute penalty.

Dan Gosling put the hosts ahead from close range in the 76th minute, only for Makienok to force extra-time in the 85th minute and then win it for Simon Grayson's men in the 111th minute.

Lucas Perez's first goals for Arsenal inspired a 4-0 rout of second-tier Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who has never won the League Cup, made 11 changes from the team that thrashed Hull on Saturday and the understudies went ahead in the 23rd minute through a long-range effort from Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Spanish striker Perez, who arrived from Deportivo La Coruna on transfer-deadline day, opened his Arsenal account in his third appearance with a 60th-minute penalty after a foul on Chuba Akpom.

Perez got his second in the 71st minute and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got Arsenal's fourth in stoppage time.

"It was a motivated team against us and we had a complete performance. The speed and movement of our play was fantastic," Wenger purred.

Liverpool, last year's beaten finalists, remain on course for a return to Wembley after a 3-0 win against Championship side Derby at the iPro Stadium.

Estonia centre-back Ragnar Klavan took advantage of poor Derby defending to fire home in the 24th minute.

Philippe Coutinho doubled Liverpool's lead in the 50th minute and Divock Origi put the result beyond doubt four minutes later.

Newcastle defeated Championship rivals Wolves 2-0, Leeds beat fellow second-tier side Blackburn 1-0, while Reading won 2-1 in another all-Championship clash at Brighton.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com