LONDON, 19 December 2003 — Struggling Aston Villa pulled off a shock 2-1 victory over big-spending Chelsea on Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the League Cup.
Villa will play Bolton Wanderers for a place in the final on Feb. 29 in Cardiff, while Middlesbrough, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 5-4 on penalties in Wednesday’s other quarterfinal, will play Arsenal.
A fantastic goal by Colombian striker Juan Pablo Angel gave Villa a 16th-minute lead, Chelsea’s England playmaker Joe Cole leveled in the 69th minute but Gavin McCann lashed home the winner nine minutes later after an Angel shot had been blocked.
The result was a huge upset, with Villa lying just a point above the relegation zone and third-placed Chelsea challenging for Premier League and Champions League honors.
Chelsea’s squad has been assembled at a cost of 111 million pounds ($194.7 million) since the July takeover by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and between the starting XI and the substitutes, coach Claudio Ranieri fielded virtually all his best players at Villa Park. More worrying for Chelsea is that Wednesday’s setback followed Saturday’s first home league defeat of the season, a 2-1 loss to unfancied Bolton.
Chelsea’s problems started when defender William Gallas mis-judged a header over 30 meters out. Angel seized possession, dribbled past John Terry and smacked a swerving shot past keeper Neil Sullivan. Substitute Hernan Crespo teed up Chelsea’s equalizer, knocking the ball back for the inrushing Cole to steer past keeper Thomas Sorensen.
But McCann rifled in the winner and Chelsea were twice denied in the dying minutes when Sorensen saved a Terry header and Cole volleyed into the side-netting.
Darren Anderton put Spurs in front after just 62 seconds when Boro failed to clear a cross, only for Michael Ricketts to level four minutes from time.
Deadlocked after extra time and level at 4-4 in the shootout, French defender Franck Queudrue converted Boro’s winning penalty after Spurs’ Argentine defender Mauricio Taricco hit the post. Boro also beat Everton 5-4 on penalties in the previous round.
Inter Saved by Freak Goal in Italian Cup
In Rome, a freak own goal by Reggina keeper Emanuele Belardi sent Inter Milan through to the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup on Wednesday.
In the second minute of stoppage time, with the score 1-0 to Reggina, Inter looked to be heading out of the competition on the away goals rule.
But Argentine striker Julio Cruz’s long-range drive struck the post, bounced off Belardi’s head and rolled into the net to give the visitors an unlikely 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 aggregate win.
Reggina midfielder Julio Leon put his team ahead in the 38th minute when he nodded in Gianluca Falsini’s cross at the far post. The home side were then reduced to 10 men after defender Simone Giacchetta committed a second bookable offense, but Inter failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority.
Reggina defended well and nearly made it 2-0 shortly after the interval when striker David Di Michele headed narrowly over the bar, before Inter’s late goal provided an agonizing finale to the home side’s evening.
In an earlier match AS Roma moved through to the quarter-finals with a labored 2-1 win at Serie B side Palermo.
The victory gave the Serie A leaders a 3-1 aggregate success in the second round tie.
Inspired by playmaker Eugenio Corini, Palermo dominated Roma early on and took the lead in the 30th minute when striker Simone Pepe headed Corini’s cross past Roma reserve keeper Andrea Zotti.
Lazio and Parma set up a quarterfinal clash by beating Modena and Venezia respectively on aggregate. Parma lost 1-0 at home to Serie B team Venezia but went through 2-1 overall.
Stuttgart Lose Again and Drop to Fourth
In Berlin, VfB Stuttgart suffered their second consecutive defeat when they lost 3-2 at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday and dropped to fourth place in the Bundesliga.
Stuttgart, who were top and undefeated until they lost 1-0 to champions Bayern Munich on Saturday, failed to bounce back in their last game before the winter break.
The southerners remain four points behind leaders Werder Bremen, who beat Hansa Rostock 3-0 on Tuesday to secure top spot at the halfway stage.
Bayern, who crushed SC Freiburg 6-0 on Tuesday, and Leverkusen are second and third respectively. Like Stuttgart they have 35 points.
The battle for the title, which will resume on Jan. 31, is likely to become a race between the top four sides with fifth-placed VfL Bochum now 13 points off top spot after fighting for a 2-2 draw at Hanover 96 on Wednesday.
Stuttgart, who face Chelsea in the first knockout stage of the Champions League, disappointed their fans with a dismal show before the break and trailed 2-0 at halftime after goals from midfielder Carsten Ramelow and striker Dimitar Berbatov.
Leverkusen, the 2002 Champions League finalists, narrowly escaped relegation last season but have recovered and remain in contention for their first German title.
King’s Cup Holders Mallorca Fall to Levante
In Madrid, second division Levante beat King’s Cup holders Real Mallorca 2-0 to provide the biggest upset of the second round on Wednesday.
David Aganzo scored both goals for promotion-chasing Levante, turning in a cross from Felix Ettien after 14 minutes and adding a second 12 minutes from time after beating Javier Olaizola and slipping a shot past keeper Miki.
Racing Santander followed Mallorca out of the competition. They went down 3-2 on penalties at second division Eibar after the match had finished goalless over 120 minutes, but there were no further shocks in Wednesday action.
Barcelona reached the last 16 with a convincing 4-0 win away to Ciudad de Murcia, Valencia eased to a 2-0 win at home to fellow first division side Murcia and Real Betis came from behind to beat Cordoba 3-1, with Dani claiming two of the goals.
