carling cup

OMG !!!!!

arsenal v/s blackburn !!!!!

omg !!!!

i tot we were gonna loose wen it got to 2-2

almost had a heart attack 😆

it even went into 30min extra time !!!!!!

buh den eduardo scored anoda 1 for d gunnerz

soo happy

cmon my man

omg !!!!

Tottenham are through to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup after a stunning 2-0 win at Manchester City, despite playing much of the game with only ten men.

The visitors led early on at The City of Manchester Stadium when Jermain Defoe converted Aaron Lennon's cross from close-range with only five minutes played.

Spurs were forced to play much of match a man light after Didier Zokora was surprisingly dismissed by referee Steve Bennett for a sliding challenge on Elano.

City dominated much of the second half, but Spurs clinched the contest in the dying moments through a superb break-away goal after 83 minutes.

Moments after Younes Kaboul hacked Rolando Bianchi's goal-bound effort off the line, Steed Malbranque skipped past Richard Dunne at the other end before slotting home past Joe Hart to clinch the win.

First defeat

City went into the game looking to extend their 100 per cent home record in all competitions to 11 games but suffered their first defeat at their own ground under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Tottenham took the lead in the fifth minute following a swift break that caught City flat-footed. Jermaine Jenas released Lennon with a clever through ball and he quickly delivered it into the area, where Defoe swept his close-range effort beyond Hart and into the corner.

Spurs carved out another good chance six minutes later when Lennon picked out Malbranque but his effort was charged down.

Tottenham though were reduced to ten-men in the 21st minute when Zokora was sent off, for what referee Steve Bennett perceived was a two-footed lunge at Elano. Ramos then decided to shake things up and brought on Teemu Tainio for the unfortunate Defoe.

Dimitar Berbatov made space for himself outside the area only to see his shot take a deflection and go over the bar.

City hit back and Elano squandered a great chance of equalising in the 33rd minute after good work by Javier Garrido and Martin Petrov.

The Brazil midfielder, back after a three-match absence because of a hamstring injury, got a good first touch - but he then sent his effort from close range wide of the post, to groans from the home fans.

City were coming more into the game as half-time approached and Johnson hooked his effort over the top after Bianchi had headed Petrov's delivery back across the area.

Little threat

Tottenham had carried little threat following Zokora's sending off which prompted Ramos into a tactical reshuffle. With Defoe sacrificed, Berbatov was employed on his own up front - and the Bulgarian was putting in a hard shift.

Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson was called into action for the first time in the 53rd minute and responded superbly. He showed quick reflexes to get up quickly and turn over a header from Darius Vassell after a cross from Vedran Corluka.

Tottenham again found themselves on the back foot on the hour when Petrov found space in the area - only to clear the bar with his effort.

But the visitors continued to look dangerous on the break, despite being a man light.

However with the home side pushing forward Tottenham added a second goal in the 82nd minute to make sure of their place in the last four. It was a superb individual effort from the former Fulham midfielder, who drew Hart out of his goal before clipping a shot into the corner.

A young Arsenal side defeated Blackburn 3-2 after extra-time to progress to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.

Mark Hughes' Blackburn were outclassed in the first half, and The Gunners took a two-goal lead through Abou Diaby and Eduardo da Silva.

However, Roque Santa Cruz pulled a goal back before the interval and then equalised on the hour mark to send Ewood Park rapturous.

The drama continued to unfold and Denilson was dismissed in the final seconds of the 90 minutes for a dangerous challenge on David Dunn.

Arsenal sat back in extra-time, looking to hit Blackburn on the counter-attack, and they eventually punished their opponents with Eduardo finishing with aplomb.

Despite making 11 changes to his starting line-up, Wenger's young guns were soon into their stride.

Bright start

Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, 19, held the key to their early dominance. Diaby's sixth-minute opener was the product of a bewildering spell of inter-passing, typical of the free-flowing football Wenger has made customary at Arsenal.

It began when Bendtner was set free down the right flank and culminated in Diaby sweeping home his cross with left-footed half-volley which flew past Brad Friedel and nestled in the top corner.

A ninth-minute move almost delivered a second goal and again Bendtner was the architect - the towering Dane playing an intelligent one-two with Diaby before racing clear down the left flank. Bendtner advanced forward at pace and placed the ball almost perfectly into the top corner, but could only watch in agony as his shot cannoned off the crossbar.

Arsenal began to dominate possession and clear-cut chances continued to be created.

Rovers then forced two smart saves in quick succession from Lukasz Fabianski following fierce long-range strikes from David Dunn and David Bentley.

Having survived Blackburn's brief purple patch, Arsenal hit back in devastating fashion to double their advantage on the half-hour mark.

Denilson, dictating play alongside Lassana Diarra in the centre of midfield, spotted Eduardo making a darting run behind the home defence.

His pass was testing but Christopher Samba failed badly to clear the danger, allowing Eduardo to collect possession and place a left-foot shot into the corner of the net past an exposed Friedel.

Reply

Blackburn were clearly shocked but they rallied again and were rewarded when Santa Cruz volleyed home Matt Derbyshire's right-wing cross.

On 60 minutes Santa Cruz made it 2-2 after powering a header home after David Bentley had delivered a superb free-kick.

Both sides created several half-chances in the latter stages of the game, which ended in acrimony when Denilson was sent off for a challenge on Dunn before getting involved in a fracas with Robbie Savage which earned the Blackburn midfielder a booking.

But Eduardo's ice-cool finish - a low left-footed strike from 16 yards - proved the winner and Arsenal could celebrate another momentous victory after Samba's late header cannoned off a post.

liverpool v chelsea preview

Both Chelsea and Liverpool head into their Carling Cup quarter-final clash on the back of Premier League defeats and will be looking to reverse their fortunes at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea coach Avram Grant has yet to decide whether or not to hand Petr Cech his first start in the cup this season.

The goalkeeper was at fault for Arsenal's winner in the Premier League on Sunday when he failed to collect a corner and with Carlo Cudicini starting in the cup games against Hull and Leicester he may have to wait his turn to redeem himself.

Michael Ballack gives Grant a boost as he makes a return to the squad for the holders. The Germany captain has not played since April and has undergone two operations on his ankle but will be included in the squad.

Captain John Terry will miss the game as he faces six weeks on the sidelines with a fractured foot that he picked up against the Gunners following a tackle by Emmanuel Eboue.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez could be tempted to make changes to his side with Xabi Alonso poised to make an appearance after 10 weeks out with a metatarsal injury.

Alonso is fit to make a return and will add some much needed strength to the Reds' midfield.

Benitez, however, has been dealt a blow with the news that skipper Steven Gerrard has been ruled out through a stomach upset and has not travelled with the rest of the squad for the clash.

Liverpool remain without Daniel Agger, who is struggling with a foot injury, while fellow defender Steve Finnan remains doubtful with a calf problem.

Liverpool are in the middle of a tough week following their league defeat to Manchester United on Sunday and Saturday sees them face Portsmouth with victory a must if they want to keep hot on the heels of their title rivals.

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arsenal were wicked in da first half..ripped those blackburn guys haha..but 2nd half dey made me crazy..i was off ma seat 🤣 😛

oh well..well played to us 👏 😃

yea we rocked
he totally saved our backside 😆 😆

OMG did i make dis topic?

dnt even remember doin it 😕 😆

nahh u didnt..but u posted dis in premier league thread so i moved it into dis one

and as u posted it earlier then kal-el[ nug] it made u the topic starter

Originally posted by: *VaVaVoom14*

nahh u didnt..but u posted dis in premier league thread so i moved it into dis one

and as u posted it earlier then kal-el[ nug] it made u the topic starter

🤣🤣

ahh dats great to hear

i tot i was now making topics without knowing it

liverpool - chelsea match tonite

wonder who will win

buh cmon d gunnerz

we made it through 👏

i reckon liverpool will win..hehe well i want dem 2 win 😆 😆 😆

if i had to choose

it'll defo be chelsea

ye wel dey got da stronger line up tonight..just seen da teams

well cmon to dem

i want arsenal to play dem again

so dat we can kik their ass as usual 😆