Blades glory

Sheffield Utd completes cup double over Leeds

LONDON (AP) -- Terry Venables' nightmare season at Leeds got even worse on Sunday when division one Sheffield United completed a rare double by ousted his team from the FA Cup four months after knocking it out of the League Cup.

Steve Kabba's goal 13 minutes from the end was the only goal of an untidy quarterfinal game at Bramall Lane where the Blades had beaten Leeds 2-1 in early November in the third round of the League Cup.

The shock result, which means struggling Leeds still hasn't reached the semifinal since 1987, was one of three quarterfinal games being staged on Sunday after Saturday's 2-2 tie between defending champion Arsenal and last season's runner up Chelsea at Highbury.

Southampton managed to avoid an upset by winning Wolves 2-0 at St. Mary's while Watford beat Burnley 2-0 in a matchup that guaranteed another division one team made it to the semifinal.

The results mean that two Premier League teams will be in the semifinal and two from division one.

At Bramall Lane, Leeds' Harry Kewell had two great chances in the first half, breaking clear of the Blades defense only to have his first shot blocked by goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and blasting his follow up drive over the bar into the crowd.

The Aussie star failed to appear in the second half because of a back strain and Leeds created few dangers to the Blades defense before the home team went ahead.

Leeds failed to clear a Michael Brown cross and, after Michael Tonge's shot had been blocked by Danny Mills, the ball rolled back to the unmarked Kabbe who fired home from 12 yards (meters).

Venables was expected to lead Leeds to trophies and a strong European campaign this season. Instead his team has been knocked out of both domestic cups by a team from division one, didn't make it past the third round of the UEFA Cup and has been sailing close to the relegation fight in the Premier League. The club lies 15th out of 20.

"I am a professional and everyone at the club has a job to do," the former Tottenham, Barcelona and England coach said after Sunday's upset loss.

"By the end of the week we have got to be up and we've got to start to try and be consistent and improve our performances in the league.

"What has to happen is a reassessment of the whole season to make sure the club improves for the following season."

By contrast, Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock was upbeat.

"You don't always get what you deserve in football but I thought we deserved it today," said Warnock, whose team is also challenging for promotion to the Premier League. "I thought we were superb from start to finish as a team in difficult circumstances.

"It's a fabulous experience. Leeds would have been happy with a replay but I thought we deserved it for our second half show. We went at them a little bit more."

At St. Mary's, an overhead kick by Chris Marsden put Saints ahead against one of his many former clubs in the 56th minute with the ball bobbing around the penalty area.

Then Southampton striker James Beattie failed to connect with a rightwing cross only for the ball to strike Wolves defender Paul Butler and deflect inside the far post nine minutes from the end.

Goals in the last 14 minutes by Tommy Smith and Stephen Glass put Watford into the semifinal for the first time in 16 years in a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Vicarage Road.

In Saturday's thriller at Highbury, Chelsea defender John Terry headed the Blues in front after three minutes. Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini saved a Thierry Henry penalty but, after Francis Jeffers had leveled, the Frenchman sent the Gunners into half time 2-1 ahead with an expertly taken goal.

Henry, who complained he had been struck by a coin thrown from the Chelsea end, limped off with an unconnected calf muscle injury which may rule him out of Tuesday's Champions League game against AS Roma.

Chelsea hit back in the second half and grabbed a 2-2 tie and a replay when Frank Lampard forced the ball through a goalmouth scramble six minutes from the end.

 

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