Stage Set For Carling Cup Quarter-Finals

• Football

By Dinouk Colombage

The fourth round of the Carling Cup was played this week across England, and the top flight teams were able to overcome early jitters to book their places in the quarter-finals. Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all overcame their opponents to ensure there were no major upsets on the night.

Manchester United, coming off a humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of the neighbours City, saw off Aldershot Town with little trouble. Sir Alex Ferguson announced a completely different starting XI from the one that was well and truly beaten on Sunday. Dimitar Berbatov, Antonio Valenci and Michael Owen all got themselves on the score sheet, the first time this season for Berbatov and Valencia, as the Red Devils eased to a 3-0 victory. Aldershot started the more positive of the two teams, as they looked more assured on the ball. However, it was Berbatov who helped the nerves of the visitors as he comfortably tapped in a cross from Park Ji-sung. Michael Owen looked to have secured United progression in the 41st minute as he lined up a Berbatov cross through Aldershot’s goalkeeper. Three minutes after the break, Valencia put to rest any doubts over the result as he powered home a 20 yard strike. Despite the courage and determination shown by Aldershot Town, they were thoroughly outplayed by Manchester United.
Arsenal came up against fellow Premier League team, Bolton Wanderers, in their Carling Cup clash. The Gunners would have been hoping a different stage would see a different result. By the start of the second half it was looking like their woes on the pitch were going to continue. However, a double strike by the Londoners ensured their progression to the quarter finals. Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba opened the scoring for the game in the 47th minute, when he drilled home a close range shot, to give the visitors a likely lead. Arsenal regrouped quickly and it was up to Andrei Arshavin to bring the hosts back on level pegging as he pushed back the visitors defenders before firing in. He was involved several minutes later as a dangerous run down the middle by the midfielder opened up Park Chu-Young who was gifted an easy goal. However, despite the 2-1 lead held by the Gunners, they were forced to see out the rest of the game defending against a Bolton onslaught. The Arsenal boys will consider themselves slightly lucky to have come away from the game with a win.
Liverpool visited Britannia Stadium on Wednesday, looking to break the winless run against Stoke City. Both managers, who have been eyeing a realistic chance of winning the tournament, named strong teams. It was, however, up to Liverpool’s new saviour Luis Suarez to seal the deal with a brace. Britannia Stadium has been unkind to visiting teams in the past, and for Liverpool it looked like the trend would continue as they went in to the first half trailing 1-0. Kenwyne Jones opened the scoring for the hosts as he received Jonathan Walters’ cross to fire in to the lower left corner. Coming out after the break, Liverpool looked the more aggressive of the two teams as they surged forward in search of an equaliser. Suarez showed off his quality as he ran rings around the Stoke defenders before curling a shot in to the far corner. Liverpool, however, was forced to wait till the 85th minute to secure the win when a Jordon Henderson cross found Suarez who nodded in to complete his brace. Certainly the Reds will now be having one eye on the trophy.
Manchester City, who demolished their cross city rivals on the weekend, was looking to ensure they did not slip up against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite naming a completely different line-up, the goals flowed for City as they continued their dominating form destroying the hosts 5-2. City effectively ended the game as Adam Johnson, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko all scored before the half. It was the Wolves, however, who opened the scoring in the 18th minute when Nenad Milijas fired in the opener. It then took the City trio only four minutes to score five minutes from time as they closed out the game. The Wolves’ night was compounded with a Dorus De Vries own goal, before Edin Dzeko scored his second for the night in the 64th minute. Despite a consolation goal to Jamie O’Hara in the 65th minute, the game was well and truly over.
Chelsea overcame their shock loss over the weekend to Queens Park Rangers, as they saw off Everton 2-1 in tightly fought contest. The night was full of drama as both teams had a man sent off, and they both missed the penalties. Chelsea had the opportunity to go ahead courtesy of a Nicholas Anelka penalty, but the Frenchman fired wide. It was left to Salomon Kalou to open the scoring in the 38th minute, as he lobbed a ball at Jan Mucha who struggled to collect it and allowed it to creep in to the goal. Leighton Baines had an opportunity in the second half to help Everton draw level as he stepped up to take a penalty, only to see it saved by Petr Cech. Louis Saha did finally help his team draw level in the 83rd minute as he headed home in to the corner. Despite the pumped up Everton pushing forward, Chelsea was able to hold on and see themselves in to extra time. Daniel Sturridge finally saw his team home as he pounced on a rebound of the keeper to fire home 5 minutes from time.
Elsewhere Blackburn saw off Newcastle in a high scoring affair, as they won 4-3. Goals from Ruben Rochina, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Gael Givet were enough for the Rovers to see off the Magpies. However, Newcastle gave Blackburn a run for their money as they scored three of their own goals courtesy of Danny Guthrie, Yohan Cabaye and Peter Lovenkrands.
Cardiff City saw of Burnley 1-0 courtesy of a Joe Mason goal. While Crystal Palace beat Southampton 2-0 through Darren Ambrose and Jermaine Easter.