English FA Cup: Battle of the Titans

English FA Cup: Battle of the Titans

Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3 was the result of this five-goal thriller at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. The first half belonged to the visitors, the second to the home team. The shock of the day came as Wigan Athletic was eliminated by lowly Swindon Town, three divisions below. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored one of Tottenham's three goals against Cheltenham.

Rooney (10 and 40') and Welbeck (30') put the visitors three goals ahead in the third round match of the FA Cup at City's Etihad Stadium. In the second half, City struck back through Kolarov (48') and Aguero (65'). City are contesting the controversial sending-off of club Captain Vincent Kompany after Rooney's first goal.

Chelsea FC beat Portsmouth (Championship, ex-Division 2) 4-0; Sunderland went to Peterborough (Championship) to win 2-0; Sheffield Wednesday (League 1, ex-division 3) beat West Ham United, one league above (Championship), 1-0; Swansea beat Barnsley (Championship) away 4-2 and Birmingham (Championship) drew 0-0 with premiership team Wolves. Wrexham (Blue Square, Division 5, went to Championship side Brighton and drew 1-1; Aston Villa travelled to League 2 side Bristol Rovers (ex-Division 4) and won 3-1 while Championship teams Coventry and Southampton played together, the match won 2-1 by Southampton.

In the League Two (ex-Division 4) tie, Crawley beat Bristol City 1-0; Dagenham and Redbridge (League 2) drew 0-0 at home with Championship team Millwall; Derby beat Crystal Palace 1-0 (both Championship); Doncaster (Championship) lost at home to Notts County, one league below; Premiership team Everton beat Tamworth (Div. 5) 2-0; Fleetwood Town (Div. 5) lost at home to Blackpool (Championship) 1-5; Fulham beat League One side Charlton 4-0 and Premiership team Stoke City travelled to Gillingham (League 2) and won 3-1.

In an all-Championship match, Hull City beat Ipswich Town 3-1; Macclesfield (League 2) drew with Championship team Bolton 2-2 at home and Middlesbrough (Championship) beat Shrewsbury (League 2) 1-0. QPR manager Neil Warnock was sacked after the Championsip team drew away at League 1 side MK Dons; Newcastle United beat Blackburn (both Premiership) 2-1; Championship team Norwich City beat Championship side Burnley 4-1; in the all-Championship tie, Nottingham Forest and Leicester drew 0-0.

Reading (Championship) lost to Stevenage (League 1) 0-1; Sheffield United (League 1) beat Salisbury (Conference South, Div. 6) 3-1; Swindon Town (League 2) beat Wigan (Premiership) 2-1; Tottenham dispatched Cheltenham (League 2) 3-0; Watford (Championship) Bradford City (League 2) 4-2; WBA 4 - Cardiff City (Championship) 2; Liverpool 5 Oldham (League 1) 1

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey
Pravda.Ru