LONDON, 19 December 2003 — Holders Liverpool and last season’s runners-up Manchester United were both knocked out of the League Cup in the fourth round on Wednesday by Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion respectively.
Liverpool, fielding a strong side, went down 3-2 at Anfield as Youri Djorkaeff scored a last-minute penalty for Bolton while United, using a mixture of youth players and reserves, were deservedly beaten 2-0 at first division leaders Albion. Premier league leaders Chelsea also advanced with a 1-0 win at first division Reading, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink getting the only goal after goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann had kept them at bay for almost an hour.
Tottenham Hotspur beat Manchester City 3-1, helped by a first goal for the club by 6.75 million pounds ($11.67 million) Portuguese striker Helder Postiga, while Aston Villa eased past first division Crystal Palace 3-0 to set up a home quarterfinal against Chelsea. The night’s other game went to penalties after Middlesbrough and Everton were goalless for 120 minutes at The Riverside, Boro eventually going through 5-4 in the shoot-out after Mark Schwarzer saved substitute Leon Osman’s kick.
Burke Sets Up Crushing 3-0 Win
for Rangers in League Cup
In Glasgow, holders Rangers cruised into the semifinals of the Scottish League Cup on Wednesday, a superb opening goal by young winger Chris Burke paving the way for a 3-0 home win against St. Johnstone.
The Premier League champions made several changes for the match but still had too much class for their first division opponents as Egil Ostenstad and Michael Mols also scored at Ibrox on the night.
Rangers clinched their seventh domestic treble of the league, the League Cup and Scottish Cups last season and remain on track to become the first club to win back-to-back trebles. After a few near misses early on, the home side opened the scoring courtesy of a brilliant solo effort from 20-year-old Burke on 16 minutes.
Sampdoria Own Goal Saves Milan’s Cup Blushes
In Rome, AC Milan needed a lucky own goal by defender Mirko Conte to overcome Sampdoria 1-0 in the first leg of the Italian Cup second round on Wednesday.
Playing without regular strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Andriy Shevchenko, Milan failed to capitalize on long periods of possession in both halves. With 11 minutes left, Sampdoria defender Maurizio Domizzi cut out a low cross by visiting midfielder Cristian Brocchi, but Conte was in the way and the ball bounced off him into the net.
Bayern Outplay Hamburg 3-0 in German Cup Tie
In Berlin, holders Bayern Munich recovered some pride with a crushing 3-0 win over Bundesliga rivals Hamburg SV in a German Cup third round tie on Wednesday.
The German champions, who have struggled at home and in Europe lately, advanced to the quarterfinals courtesy of a first-half goal from Peru striker Claudio Pizarro and two after the break from Dutch striker Roy Makaay and Bosnian midfielder Hasan Salihamidzic.
Real Stun Atletico, Barca Thrashed at Malaga
In Madrid, Ronaldo and Raul helped Real Madrid reclaim the leadership of the Primera Liga on Wednesday, producing stunning goals in an emphatic 2-0 win over neighbours Atletico in the Madrid derby at the Bernabeu.
Real made a dream start when Ronaldo scored within 15 seconds of the kickoff with a brilliant solo effort and the champions delivered the knockout blow when skipper Raul added a second 19 minutes later, heading in after a pass from David Beckham.
PSG Go Third After 3-2 Win Over Strasbourg
Paris-St Germain, inspired by Brazilian forward Reinaldo, beat Racing Strasbourg 3-2 on Wednesday to pull level with second-placed Olympique Lyon in Ligue 1.
Monaco lead with 36 points from 15 games followed by champions Lyon on 30 - neither team played on Wednesday ahead of next week’s Champions League matches.
PSG are third on goal difference while RC Lens, who beat bottom side Toulouse 2-1, have 28 points from 16 matches. After their 1-0 “floodlight robbery” win at Olympique Marseille at the weekend, PSG went 1-0 down in the 14th minute when Serbia and Montenegro striker Danijel Ljuboja scored with a free kick around the wall.
