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Reds down and out Crystal Palace knocks Liverpool out of FA CupPosted: Wednesday February 05, 2003 6:29 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- First division Crystal Palace, playing with 10 men for the last 20 minutes, knocked premier league Liverpool out of the FA Cup with a superb 2-0 victory at Anfield in their fourth-round replay on Wednesday. A brilliant goal by wing back Julian Gray after 55 minutes and a late own goal by Stephane Henchoz won it for Palace, who had striker Dougie Freedman sent off in the 70th minute. The night's all-premier league replay went to penalties after Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers were level at 2-2 after extra time, Sunderland winning the shoot-out 3-0. Southampton midfielder Matt Oakley, with just two goals in the last two and half seasons, doubled his tally at the New Den as the premier league side overcame first division Millwall 2-1 after extra time in the other outstanding tie. Liverpool totally dominated in the first half against Palace but despite a series of chances could not find a way through. Cedric Berthelin, playing in goal in place of Latvian Alex Kolinko, who was dropped for "attitude reasons," made several good saves to keep Palace in the game, the best to deny England striker Emile Heskey. Shock lead Palace's classic 1990 semi-final victory over Liverpool seemed a long way away at halftime but 10 minutes after the break they took a shock lead when Gray arrived unmarked at the far post to smash a shot past Jerzy Dudek, who had not had to make a save previously. Things appeared to swing Liverpool's way in the 70th minute when Freedman, on as a 36th-minute substitute, inexplicably elbowed Liverpool center back Sami Hyypia and was sent off. Palace, 11th in the first division, defended superbly from then on though and got a second goal after Gray broke for 50 meters and forced Henchoz to put through his own net 11 minutes from time. Their reward is a fifth-round home tie against Leeds United, managed by former boss Terry Venables, who beat 2-1 Gillingham in their replay on Tuesday. Current manager Trevor Francis said it was a "good feeling" to beat Liverpool. "In the first half they played us off the park, we couldn't live with them," he told Sky Sports TV. "But they missed chance after chance and I said at halftime maybe it was our night. "We put them under more pressure in the second half, got in their face, and that performance was what I have come to expect from my team." "With 20 minutes to go I thought it would be very difficult for us to hold out but we did, and increased our lead and it was fantastic for our supporters." Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier said: "It was just one of those nights when the ball wouldn't go in. "When Emile missed his chance the whole team seemed to be deflated." Blackburn came from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 with Sunderland 10 days ago and needed another late goal on Wednesday to take the game into extra time. Sunderland on top Kevin Phillips put Sunderland ahead after 10 minutes and the home side, currently bottom of the premier league, should have had more as they dominated the first half. Garry Flitcroft leveled five minutes into the second half but Sunderland remained on top and got a deserved second in the 79th minute when Gavin McCann smashed home a brilliant 25 metre volley -- only for Flitcroft to grab his second in the last minute. Sunderland keeper Thomas Sorensen then saved two Blackburn spot kicks in the shoot-out, David Johnson missing with another, allowing McCann to drive home the decisive penalty to give Sunderland a 3-0 success and a home game against first division Watford in the fifth round. Oakley fired Southampton ahead at Millwall after 21 minutes with a superbly-struck left-foot shot from just outside the box. It was a first goal of the season for the midfielder, who has scored just once in each of the last two campaigns. Millwall had not been in the game for most of the first half but somehow fashioned an equalizer in the 37th minute through Irish international Steven Reid. Southampton's James Beattie sent a header against a post in a rare second half attack but 12 minutes into extra time Oakley found the way to goal again from outside the box to earn Gordon Strachan's team a home fifth round tie with Norwich.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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