Injury agony as United bow out

BY JOHN HUGHES

LONDON - Peter Crouch’s 19th-minute header, which bounced


in off both posts, propelled Liverpool into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 home win in a fierce and feisty match against Manchester United who had reached the last two finals.


Knocked out of the competition by Liverpool fror the first time in 85 years, United also lost England international Alan Smith with a broken leg and dislocated ankle bone that could sideline the striker-turned-midfielder for a year. “It’s the worst injury I’ve seen,” said his manager Alex Ferguson. United’s only hope of lifting a trophy this season lies with this Sunday’s Carling Cup final against Wigan in Cardiff.


But Premiership leaders Chelsea stay on course for a domestic double after reaching the last eight with a hard-earned 3-1 win at home to plucky minnows Colchester. Joe Cole, one of three internationals who came off the Chelsea bench, struck twice in the last 11 minutes.


Fit-again Kieron Dyer celebrated his first start in six months by sliding in the goal that earned Newcastle a 1-0 win over visitors Southampton, while Charlton made no mistake against Brentford, winning 3-1 at home.


Premiership sides Middlesbrough and Birmingham both came safely through away from home. Nigeria’s two-goal Yakubu wrapped up a 2-0 win for Middlesbrough at Preston and Finland’s Mikael Forssell was on target as Birmingham beat Stoke 1-0.


In the Premiership, fourth-placed Tottenham edged closer to a Champions League spot with a 2-2 home draw with Wigan. But Tottenham needed two equalisers after stand-in striker Andreas Johansson scored twice for Wigan.


In the Championship, spectacular shots by Michael Tonge and Ade Akinbiyi earned second-placed Sheffield United a 2-1 win in the big local derby at Sheffield on Wednesday. Southend top League One by four points from Colchester after winning 4-3 in a rollercoaster at 10-man Chesterfield, while Carlisle, who were playing non-league football last season, lead the way in League Two after crushing bottom-placed visitors Rushden 5-0.


But Bolton are threatened with a potential fixture pile-up after being held 0-0 at home by in-form West Ham. To add to Bolton’s frustration, Greek star Stelios had a “goal” incorrectly disallowed for offside. Aston Villa also face a replay, 17-year-old right-back Micah Richards heading a sensational stoppage-time equaliser to earn Manchester City a 1-1 draw at Villa Park.

Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News

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