LONDON, 30 October 2003 — Cameroon midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba heaped more misery on Leeds United on Tuesday when he grabbed a freak extra-time winner to give Manchester United a 3-2 victory in the League Cup third round.
Premier League leaders Arsenal were also made to struggle, needing a marathon 9-8 penalty shootout win to advance past 10-man Rotherham United of division one following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Leeds, who had revealed annual losses of almost 50 million pounds (US$84.53 million) earlier in the day, produced a spirited display at a packed Elland Road.
On-loan Brazilian defender Roque Junior scored twice for Peter Reid’s side on his debut.
David Bellion and Diego Forlan netted for Manchester United, runners-up last season, but with penalties looming Djemba-Djemba produced the decisive contribution three minutes from the end of extra time.
The Cameroon international chose the perfect moment to score his second goal for Manchester United when he side-footed a bizarre bouncing shot over Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson from a corner to settle the outcome.
At Highbury, Frenchman Jeremie Aliadiere gave a virtual reserve Arsenal team an 11th-minute lead but plucky Rotherham forced extra time when Darren Byfield drove in a 90th-minute equalizer.
Rotherham then had goalkeeper Mike Pollitt sent off but held on until the shootout. In it, Arsenal’s French striker Sylvain Wiltord, who had already missed once, scored the decisive kick after Chris Swailes missed for Rotherham. Spaniard Francesc Fabregas also became the youngest player to appear in the Arsenal first team when he started the match. Aged 16 years and 177 days, he beat the record of Jermaine Pennant who was 16 years 319 days when he played against Middlesbrough in the same competition in 1999. The other Premier League sides were untroubled. Wolverhampton Wanderers beat first division Burnley 2-0, Manchester City won 3-0 at second division Queens Park Rangers. Bolton Wanderers disposed of first division Gillingham 2-0 and Southampton were 3-0 winners at second division Bristol City.
Kahn Spares Bayern’s
Blushes in Cup Tie
In Berlin, goalkeeper Oliver Kahn spared Bayern Munich an embarrassing German Cup exit by making two saves in the penalty shootout to give the holders victory over second division Nuremberg in a second round tie on Tuesday.
Dutch striker Roy Makaay canceled out an early goal from visiting Nuremberg’s Robert Vittek in a dull game that ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time.
Germany playmaker Michael Ballack symbolized a nervous performance by the German champions when he missed with the goal at his mercy from five meters in extra time before seeing his penalty saved in the shootout, which Bayern eventually won 7-6. Hertha Berlin coach Huub Stevens saved his job when his troubled team beat Bundesliga rivals Hansa Rostock on penalties after a tight game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and 2-2 after extra time.
Stevens had to wait until the final minute of extra time to see substitute Nando Rafael equalize and force a shootout that Hertha won 4-3. Two goals in extra time from French playmaker Johan Micoud and Greek striker Angelos Charisteas gave Werder Bremen a 3-1 victory over VfL Wolfsburg in Tuesday’s other all-Bundesliga clash.
VfB Stuttgart struggled to beat second division Wacker Burghausen 1-0, substitute striker Imre Szabics hitting the winner with a deflected effort from the edge of the box 10 minutes into the second half. Cologne were also made to work hard for their 3-2 win over VfL Wolfsburg’s amateur team, who play in the equivalent of the fourth division.
Ten-Man Real Madrid
Claim Draw at Zaragoza
In Madrid, Real Madrid had to settle for a goalless draw at Real Zaragoza on Tuesday after playing the final 20 minutes with 10 men. Real were pushing hard for the victory they needed to move back on top of the Primera Liga standings when center-back Francisco Pavon was sent off for a second booking on 72 minutes.
Carlos Queiroz’s side continued to press but the Zaragoza defense held out, with Argentine center-back Gabriel Milito in outstanding form against the club that rejected him over the close season.
The result left Real in second place in the table with 20 points from nine games, a point behind leaders Deportivo Coruna and one ahead of third-placed Valencia.
