League Cup holders Chelsea were knocked out of this season’s competition 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out by Premiership rivals Charlton at Stamford Bridge in London on Wednesday.
Robert Huth was the fall guy with his penalty, Chelsea’s second, saved by Charlton goalkeeper Stephan Anderson in a dramatic third-round tie that ended manager Jose Mourinho’s hopes of a trophy clean sweep.
”It’s very disappointing,” Mourinho told Sky Sports afterwards. ”Sometimes big teams lose cup ties on commitment, on attitude. We didn’t lose on that. We deserved to win but we lost.
”I have no complaints,” the Portuguese added. ”I give credit to them [Charlton]. They fought hard but they were lucky.”
Mourinho said he’s been taken aback by Germany defender Huth’s penalty miss.
”I told him tomorrow is another day, Saturday [against Blackburn] is another game. He has to work out why he missed. We practised for two days and he was the best penalty-taker. Maybe he has to take another [match] penalty.”
Reigning Premiership champions Chelsea, who lead the table by nine points from Charlton, saw reserve goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini come close to stopping a couple of Addicks’ spot-kicks.
But the Italian could do nothing about Bryan Hughes’s winning effort that took Charlton into the last 16.
The London clubs were locked at 1-1 after extra time. Chelsea captain John Terry’s 41st-minute header from Arjen Robben’s corner was cancelled out by Darren Bent on the stroke of half-time following a mistake by Huth.
Manchester United’s youngsters took centre stage as they thrashed league-two strugglers Barnet 4-1 at Old Trafford.
Barnet’s slim hopes of causing an upset were effectively ended in the second minute when ‘keeper Ross Flintney was sent off for deliberate handball outside the box.
Liam Miller scored from the resultant free kick past substitute goalkeeper Scott Tynan before Kieran Richardson added a second in the 19th minute.
Barnet held on until after the break when Guiseppe Rossi struck before Dean Sinclair pulled one back for the north Londoners in the 74th minute.
But United added a fourth late on through Sylvain Ebanks-Blake.
Alan Shearer ended Grimsby’s hopes of claiming another Premiership scalp as Newcastle won 1-0 at Blundell Park.
The Mariners, who beat Tottenham in the previous round, were holding their own until 10 minutes from time when Newcastle skipper Shearer received Michael Chopra’s pass and finished with a strong left-foot shot.
However, the match was notable for a series of clashes between Shearer and Grimsby skipper Justin Whittle, which left the former England striker having stitches inserted into a mouth wound at half-time.
”It would have been easy for me to go out there and stick one on him, because that is what I wanted to do,” an angry Shearer said. ”He has done me, it was blatant. The referee was five yards away and he did nothing.”
Elsewhere, Premiership strugglers Birmingham secured their place in the last 16 with a 2-1 home win against Norwich at St Andrews.
Jermaine Pennant gave the Blues a fifth-minute lead when his free kick took a deflection and looped over Canaries goalkeeper Robert Green, but a Martin Taylor own goal brought the visitors, relegated from the Premiership last season, level.
Finland striker Mikael Forssell then missed a penalty for Birmingham and Steve Bruce’s men had to endure some nervous moments before on-loan Chelsea midfielder Jiri Jarosik settled the tie with four minutes to go after letting fly with a 25-yard shot that gave Green no chance.
Everton’s poor season continued after a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink goal gave their Premiership rivals Middlesbrough a 1-0 win at Goodison Park.
In another all-top-flight encounter, Bolton beat West Ham 1-0 after Mexican striker Jared Borgetti headed in Khalilou Fadiga’s cross.
Leicester reached the last 16 with a victory over fellow Championship side Cardiff. Nils-Eric Johansson scored the only goal for the Foxes in the 11th minute at Ninian Park. — Sapa-AFP