Saturday, 24 January 2015

FA CUP SHOCKER: Chelsea, Manchester City, Spurs all crash out

Premier League title challengers Chelsea and
Manchester City both crashed out of the FA
Cup after being sensationally beaten by lower-
league opponents in the fourth round on
Saturday.
A weakened Chelsea team threw away a 2-0
lead to lose 4-2 at home to third-tier Bradford
City in one of the biggest upsets in the
competition's recent history, while City lost 2-0
to Championship high-fliers Middlesbrough at
the Etihad Stadium.
With Southampton beaten 3-2 by Crystal
Palace, it means that none of the Premier
League's top three teams will feature in
Monday's fifth-round draw, blowing the
competition wide open.
Manchester United, who are fourth in the
Premier League, face a replay against fourth-
division Cambridge United after a 0-0 away
draw against the League Two club on Friday.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had warned
prior to kick-off at Stamford Bridge that it
would be a "disgrace" if his side were beaten
by Bradford.
But his words came back to haunt him as the
League One team pulled off an upset that
brought to mind their stunning run to the
League Cup final in 2013.
Chelsea made nine changes to the team that
had drawn 1-1 with Liverpool in Tuesday's
League Cup semi-final first leg and took a 21st-
minute lead when Gary Cahill flicked in Oscar's
corner.
Ramires made it 2-0 in the 38th minute after a
one-two with Mohamed Salah, but Jon Stead
replied for Bradford three minutes later and
former Chelsea youth player Filipe Morais
equalised 15 minutes from time.
A money-spinning replay beckoned for the
team who are currently seventh in the third
tier, 51 places below Chelsea, but they went
ahead in the 82nd minute when Andy Halliday
found the top corner from 18 yards.
Mourinho introduced Willian, Cesc Fabregas
and Eden Hazard from the bench, but it was
Bradford who had the final say as substitute
Mark Yeates calmly slotted home to claim his
own piece of FA Cup folklore.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini was left to face
questions about his side's midweek trip to Abu
Dhabi for a warm-weather training camp after
they were eliminated by Middlesbrough.
Currently second in the Championship,
Middlesbrough weathered heavy pressure in
the first half before capitalising on some
farcical defending to take a 53rd-minute lead
through on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick
Bamford.
Fernando's back-pass sold Willy Caballero short
and after the City goalkeeper collided with
Albert Adomah, Fernando slid in to clear, only
to play the ball against Bamford, whose touch
took the ball in.
After Lee Tomlin had hit the post for
Middlesbrough, with Frank Lampard replying
in kind, substitute Kike secured victory for the
visitors in stoppage time by finishing off a
counter-attack led by Bamford.
City, who visit Chelsea in the league next
weekend, have now lost successive home
games for the first time in three years, having
lost 2-0 at home to Arsenal last weekend.
Sixth-placed Tottenham were another team to
suffer at home as the Premier League's
basement side Leicester City came from
behind to win 2-1 at White Hart Lane.
Spurs went ahead from the penalty spot after
19 minutes through Andros Townsend, but the
Foxes' industry was rewarded with seven
minutes left when Leonardo Ulloa swept the
ball home.
There was then drama in stoppage time when
Michel Vorm allowed a scuffed shot from Jeff
Schlupp to squirm over the line. Swansea,
ninth in the top-flight, had earlier lost 3-1 to
Championship side Blackburn at Ewood Park in
the lunchtime kick-off.
The Swans had Kyle Bartley sent off early on,
but Gylfi Sigurdsson, who also saw red in the
closing stages, put them ahead in the 21st
minute only for Chris Taylor to equalise two
minutes later, and late goals from Rudy
Gestede and Craig Conway sent Rovers
through.
Sunderland were held to a goalless draw at
home by Championship side Fulham after
playing the final 24 minutes with only 10 men
following Jack Rodwell's dismissal for two
bookable offences.

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