• Carling Cup round-up

Hargreaves scores on return as Chelsea survive pens

ESPN staff
September 21, 2011
Owen Hargreaves savours his strike © Getty Images
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Carling Cup - Wednesday gallery

Owen Hargreaves scored a goal barely 20 minutes into his return to football as Manchester City cruised to Carling Cup victory against holders Birmingham City on Wednesday night.

The former Manchester United midfielder managed 55 minutes on his return to competitive action, scoring the opening goal of the game with a sweetly-struck effort from around 25 yards to give Roberto Mancini's side an early advantage, with Mario Balotelli slotting home a second just before half-time to complete a 2-0 win.

Mancini kept an attacking side on the pitch in the second half but they nevertheless seemed to take their foot off the accelerator somewhat, with Chris Hughton's side able to secure a certain amount of respectability with the final scoreline - even if it ends any unlikely hopes Birmingham fans had of a spectacular defence of their trophy.

Ten-man Chelsea needed a healthy dose of luck to get past Fulham at Stamford Bridge, eventually winning 4-3 on penalties after no goals were scored in 120 minutes of action.

Defender Alex was sent off early in the second hald, as Pajtim Kasami missed the ensuing spot-kick. Penalties would then decide the contest - with Frank Lampard missing the very first attempt before failures from Moussa Dembele (saved by Ross Turnbull) and, crucially, Bryan Ruiz (who saw his attempt fail to cross the line as it came off the underside of the bar) enabling Andre Villas-Boas to breath a sigh of relief.

Villas-Boas had found his options restricted by events on the pitch - with Daniel Sturridge and Petr Cech both being withdrawn due to injury as precautionary measures just before half-time, while Alex's red card forced then the unwanted introduction of Terry.

Alex received his marching orders after a clumsy challenge on Kerim Frei, but Kasami was unable to capitalise from the spot - hitting the bar as Turnbull breathed a sigh of relief. Fulham then ad another good penalty shout rejected by the referee, while Romelu Lukaku saw a good header well saved as the game headed inexorably to extra-time.

Bobby Zamora and Steve Sidwell then both missed great chances to win the contest, but it was ultimately left to Ruiz to play the (unfortunate) villain as Martin Jol's men fell short.

Dirk Kuyt celebrates his clincher © Getty Images
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At the AMEX Stadium, Liverpool survived a late scare as they held on for a 2-1 victory against Gus Poyet's Brighton.

Craig Bellamy scored his first goal since returning to the club early in the first half, with Dirk Kuyt seemingly clinching matters with a calm finish ten minutes from time. But substitute Ashley Barnes crashed home a penalty in the final minute of normal time to threaten a late comeback.

Liverpool had the opportunity to give Steven Gerrard a brief cameo as a substitute - while Brighton debuted their own big name, VIcente - but were perhaps fortunate to survive after Carragher's clumsy late challenge gave away a spot-kick, with Craig Noone - released by Liverpool while still a child - in particular hitting the bar with a booming effort after a sloppy cross-field ball from Sebastian Coates.

Phil Neville's precise left-foot finish in the 103th minute handed Everton a come-from-behind victory against fellow Premier League side West Brom at Goodison Park.

Neville ensured Moyes' men secured a 2-1 triumph with his effort, finding the back of the net after a good pass by Royston Drenthe. Marouane Fellaini's 89th minute finish had ensured the game would go on for an extra 30 minutes, cancelling out Chris Brunt's emphatic finish from the penalty spot late in the second half.

Championship side Cardiff also made it through to the last 16, as they won 7-6 on penalties against Leicester.

Defender Paul Quinn grabbed the winner for the home side, after Rudy Gestede and Don Cowie had cancelled away strikes from Lloyd Dyer and Steve Howard during normal time.

Elsewhere, Southampton held on to defeat Preston 2-1 thanks to goals from Jos Hooived and Adam Lallana.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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