LONDON: Manchester City reached the quarterfinals of the League Cup after they finally broke down a resilient Newcastle United to win 2-0 after extra time on Wednesday, while Tottenham Hotspur needed penalties to get past Hull City.

City, who made 10 changes from the team that played Chelsea in the league on Sunday, were far from fluent but came through a testing encounter with goals from substitute Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko in the first period of extra time.

Tottenham earned a late reprieve when Harry Kane made it 2-2 in extra time and then booked a place in the last eight when Hull’s Ahmed Elmohamady missed his penalty to hand Spurs an 8-7 win.

It was Tottenham’s first penalty shootout victory in eight attempts since they beat Peterborough in the FA Cup in 1994.

Gylfi Sigurdsson had put them ahead after 16 minutes with a rocket finish before a Brad Friedel own goal ensured the tie went to extra time.

Paul McShane put Hull, who lost 1-0 to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday, in the box seat nine minutes into the additional period, but Kane levelled with a precise finish.

Manchester City dug deep into their near endless squad of reserves but still fielded a full side of internationals.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart was one of those relegated to the bench after his error of judgment on Sunday allowed Chelsea to win at Stamford Bridge, but the wholesale changes produced a stilted first half display.

Bale revels in ‘great’ night

In Madrid, Gareth Bale believes he is approaching his best form after scoring twice and providing two more goals as Real Madrid thrashed Sevilla 7-3 on Wednesday.

Bale was making his first start at the Santiago Bernabeu and soon had his first home goal when he thumped in the opener on 13 minutes.

He then had a slice of luck 14 minutes later as his free-kick deflected in off Alberto Moreno for Real’s second.

Cristiano Ronaldo then went onto score a hat-trick and Karim Benzema twice, with Bale setting up a goal apiece for his strike partners as the 24-year-old completed the 90 minutes for the first time since joining the club last month.

Victory moved Real back to within six points of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Madrid are in action once more against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday before traveling to face Juventus in the Champions League next midweek.

And with the worst of his injury problems appearing to be behind him, Bale is desperate be involved.

“It is a an exciting time. We have big games ahead and everyone is desperate to win them.

Bale’s performance was lauded by his coach Carlo Ancelotti, who believes his new star showed what he was truly capable of for the first time in a Madrid shirt.

Despite being delighted with the performance of his front three, though, Ancelotti was disappointed with how Real let Sevilla back into the game after racing into a 3-0 lead.

Ivan Rakitic’s penalty and Carlos Bacca made it 3-2 at half time and Rakitic struck again and missed a penalty in the second-half as Sevilla exposed Madrid’s defensive frailties.


Juve, Napoli close gap on Roma

In Milan, Juventus outclassed Catania 4-0 and Napoli battled to a 2-1 win away to Fiorentina to move to within two points of Serie A leaders Roma on Wednesday.

Roma, who set an all-time league record last Sunday by winning all nine of their opening games, will aim to make it 10 in a row on Thursday when they host bottom side Chievo at the Olympic Stadium.

Chievo, who have four points and one win to their name all season, are set to become the latest victims of a rampant Roma side that has already accounted for Inter Milan, Napoli and Lazio.

Juventus and Napoli, however, avoided any slip-ups to keep pace with Rudi Garcia’s record-setting side.

Champions Juve were in imperious form in Turin where Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal started the rout with a deflected 28th minute strike, before Andrea Pirlo doubled the lead with a sumptuous curling free kick.

Carlos Tevez made it 3-0 just after the hour mark and Antonio Conte’s side wrapped up the points when Leonardo Bonucci was allowed to run in unchallenged and tap home Sebastian Giovinco’s low pass.

Away to Fiorentina, who stunned Juve with a come-from-behind 4-2 win two weeks ago, Napoli were expected to work hard for the points.

However, Rafael Benitez’s men were never under pressure, typified by a 12th minute opener after Gonazalo Higuain crossed to the right for Spaniard Jose Callejon to beat goalkeeper Neto with a sweetly-struck first-time strike.

Fiorentina were soon back on level terms when Giuseppe Rossi’s spot kick, after Borja Valero was fouled in the area, sent Pepe Reina the wrong way.

It took Rossi’s league-leading tally to nine goals, but his and Fiorentina’s joy was short-lived. Napoli restored their advantage on 36 minutes when Dries Mertens ran unchallenged into the hosts’ area to beat Neto with an angled strike.