Wednesday, November 12, 2008

"Championship side record shock win"

Goalkeeper Brian Jensen Burnley was the hero as Chelsea crashed out of the Carling Cup on penalties at Stamford Bridge 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. 

Jensen saved from captain Wayne Bridge and John Obi Mikel to put the Coca-Cola Championship side in the quarterfinals. 

Returning striker Didier Drogba put Chelsea in front in the 27th minute but substitute Ade Akinbiyi Burnley tied with 20 minutes remaining. 

Both sides ended the game with 10 men after the Burnley Steve Caldwell was sent off for a second offense to stay late, while Franco Di Santo was forced off injured with all the Chelsea substitutes already used. 

However, Jensen provoked scenes of celebration when Obi saved from sudden death spot-kick to put the second-level part in the last eight. 

Burnley had already beaten Bury, Oldham and Fulham to reach the fourth round in 6500 and led the fans at Stamford Bridge hoping to witness another sad. 

In the 11th minute Puente, master of the night in the absence of substitute for John Terry, sent a curling shot just wide of the upright. 

Owen Coyle part, fifth in the championship having lost just four times this season, were coping well with Chelsea with ambitions to attack. 

In the 19th minute, Chelsea should have opened the scoring when Drogba, making his first start for six weeks, Salomon Kalou became clear. 

However, the Ivory Coast striker was foiled by Jensen as Kalou tried to take the ball around the Burnley goalkeeper. 

At the opposite end, a mistake by Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini almost gifted an opener Burnley, but Paulo Ferreira was on hand to clear the danger. 

An injury to Juliano Belletti, Chelsea forced to make a change early and was replaced by Frank Lampard on 25 minutes. 

England midfielder Lampard made an instant impact as Chelsea were ahead in the 27th minute. 

His precision pass to Drogba towards establishing the brand in Burnley later in the penalty area. 

Michael Duff Drogba left on the floor as they swept into the area and curled the ball across the unprotected Jensen. 

Lampard introduction clearly had helped get to Chelsea at the top of his game, with England midfielder now at the heart of all their best moves. 

In the 38 minutes Jensen had to be at their best to maintain a low, angled drive from Florent Malouda as Chelsea expects to end Burnley's interest in the competition forever. 

The second goal came almost at the 45 minute when Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic headed a free kick against the crossbar from Mineiro. 

In the 55 minutes Ivanovic put another header over the bar after Kalou and Malouda have combined to get the ball in the penalty area. 

Kalou was thwarted by Jensen put his team when Drogba of the Ivory Coast-mate through on goal. 

Burnley, sensing that they were still an opportunity, Martin Paterson replaced with Akinbiyi on the hour. 

Drogba, the main threat to Burnley, in the opening half began to look for an isolated figure as the Blues settled for containment rather than a decisive second goal. 

Chelsea of the frustration was underlined by Scolari in the next motion, which was replacing Drogba with Di Santo in the 68th minute. 

However, Chelsea were stunned in 70 minutes. 

Chris Eagles stormed a pass from Robbie Blake and when his shot was saved by Cudicini, substitute Akinbiyi pounced to equalize. 

Di Santo lost two gilt-edged chances to restore Chelsea at the top as the game finally peter out in extra time. 

However, the Chelsea of misery continued when an injury to Di Santo reduced to 10 men three minutes in the first period of added time. 

Both parties failed to create a clear chance in the opening half but Akinbiyi brought a fine save from Cudicini with a clever header at minute 111. 

Six minutes from time Chelsea defender Alex SCUFF shot in the bar from point blank range as the game lurched towards the penalty showdown. 

The numbers were even in moments later when Caldwell was sent off for a second offense after ordering the freezing of Malouda. 

However, that was the last event of note before the game went to penalties and Jensen became the hero of Burnley.

"Liverpool, Arsenal get wins in Premier League"

Liverpool and Arsenal returned to winning ways Saturday to affirm their title credentials of the Premier League, while Hull lost their third match after an impressive start to his campaign debut in the top flight. 

Robbie Keane scored his first two league goals since joining Liverpool in the offseason in a 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion. 

Samir Nasri also had a double, leading Arsenal to a 2-1 victory over defending champion Manchester United and relieve the pressure on manager Arsene Wenger throwing a three-game winless streak in all competitions. 

Liverpool leads the classification by three points ahead of Chelsea, which is at Blackburn on Sunday. United gunners in the past third. 

Hull overcame Bolton 1-0 Matt Taylor in the 50 minute goal, while Portsmouth won for the first time since Harry Redknapp replaced Tony Adams two weeks ago. Jermain Defoe converted a 90th minute penalty to beat Sunderland 2-1. 

Everton met with three goals in the last seven minutes to beat West Ham 3-1, and Wigan and Stoke played to a 0-0 draw.

Liverpool dominated West Brom, but took until the 34th to take the lead when Steven Gerrard went through the defense with a pass accuracy Keane, who shot a loft in advancing goalkeeper Scott Carson. 

Carson was once again stranded on the edge of the area after Fabio Aurelio pass split the defense two minutes before the break, allowing Keane to return to the former Liverpool goalkeeper to score his second. 

Alvaro Arbeloa curled in the third goal in the 90th