The Hindu : Sport / Football : Crystal Palace sinks Liverpool

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 27, 2005

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Sport - Football

Crystal Palace sinks Liverpool

London: European champion Liverpool was eliminated from the English League Cup on Tuesday, beaten 2-1 by Football League Championship side Crystal Palace in the third round.

Crystal Palace led in the 37th minute on a goal by Dougie Freedman, but Liverpool equalised with a side-footed goal from Steven Gerrard — the midfielder's 50th goal for the club.

Marco Reich scored the winning goal in the 66th minute.

Liverpool started with a mix of youth and experience, with Gerrard — playing his first match since injuring his shin playing for England — Dietmar Hamman, Peter Crouch and Harry Kewell alongside the inexperienced David Raven and Zak Whitbread.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said he did not scold his players after the match.

In other results in England's second tier club knockout competition, it was Sunderland 0, Arsenal 3; Aston Villa 1, Burnley 0; Blackburn 3, Leeds 0; Doncaster 2, Gillingham 0; Mansfield 2, Millwall 3; Reading 2, Sheffield United 0.

Wigan beat Watford 3-0 after extra time, while West Bromwich Albion beat Fulham 3-2. Palace was relegated from the Premier League last season.

"There was no pressure tonight against the European champion, we had nothing to lose," Palace midfielder Michael Hughes said. "We played some good stuff and overall we deserved to win."

Inamato nets winner

In the night's only all-Premier League match, West Brom beat Fulham with a goal by Junichi Inamoto in extra time.

The Baggies took the lead in the third minute when Robert Earnshaw collected an Inamoto throw-in and scored past goalkeeper Tony Warner.

Fulham pushed the match into extra time when Heidar Helguson equalised in the 90th minute. — AP

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