Wigan, Blackburn, Manchester United, Middlesbrough and Bolton reached the final eight of England’s League Cup on Wednesday.
Wigan defeated Newcastle 1-0, Blackburn won 3-2 at Charlton, Man United won 3-1 over West Brom at Old Trafford, and Middlesbrough defeated Crystal Palace 2-1.
Bolton defeated Leicester 2-1 after 30 minutes of extra time, with all three goals coming in the extra session.
In the night’s only Premier League game, Liverpool won 2-0 at Sunderland on goals by Luis Garcia and Steven Gerrard.
In Wigan’s victory, David Connolly scored the deciding goal on an 88th-minute penalty.
”Overall, we’re not complaining,” Newcastle manager Graeme Souness said. ”The best team went through. Our players didn’t play near their potential. Our players say it wasn’t a penalty, but we can’t complain because the best team won.”
Blackburn rallied from a 2-0 deficit for their 3-2 win over Charlton in England’s number-two club competition. Darren Ambrose and Danny Murphy gave Charlton a 2-0 lead by the 50th minute. Blackburn rallied with late goals from Shefki Kuqi (75th), David Thompson (81st) and David Bentley (88th).
Manchester United were easy winners over West Brom, leading 2-0 after only 16 minutes on a penalty by Cristiano Ronaldo and another goal from Louis Saha. John O’Shea extended the lead in the second half before Nathan Ellington scored late for the Baggies.
Manchester United paid homage to the late George Best before the game with a minute’s silence and a moving tribute from former teammate Bobby Charlton.
The game was Manchester United’s first at Old Trafford since Best — a former Red Devils star — died last week at 59 after decades of alcohol abuse.
Speaking for fans, players and the staff of Man United, Charlton said: ”I would just like to say on their behalf, a big thank you to George Best. And to just say, you will never be forgotten.”
In Middlesbrough’s 2-1 win over League Championship team Crystal Palace, Palace took a 1-0 lead after 31 minutes on an own goal by Franck Queudrue before Mark Viduka and Szilard Nemeth rallied ‘Boro.
In Bolton’s 2-1 win over League Championship club Leicester, Jared Borgetti and Ricardo Vaz Te put Bolton ahead before Gareth Williams replied in extra time for the losers.
Arsenal, Doncaster and Birmingham City reached the final eight in matches on Tuesday. — Sapa-AP