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Arsenal into League Cup semis after shoot-out
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-12-22 09:14
LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Arsenal scraped into the League Cup semi-finals on
Wednesday but needed a penalty shootout to get past third division Doncaster
Rovers after the teams had drawn 2-2 following extra time.
Home side
Doncaster seemed set to continue a giant-killing run that had already accounted
for Premier League Manchester City and Aston Villa when they led 2-1 with 120
minutes on the clock.
But Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva scored in extra-time injury
time and Arsenal, fielding a largely second-string team, then comfortably won
the shootout 3-1.
The victory earned them a semi-final meeting with Wigan Athletic, who secured
their first major last four appearance by beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 on
Tuesday.
In Wednesday's other quarter-final Paul Dickov's 90th-minute goal earned
Blackburn Rovers a 1-0 win at 2004 League Cup winners Middlesbrough.
In the semis they will play Manchester United, who won 3-1 at Birmingham City
on Tuesday.
Arsenal were stunned in the fourth minute when Michael McIndoe slipped
through to beat goalkeeper Manuel Almunia at the near post.
An injury that ended Robin van Persie's involvement after half an hour added
to Arsenal's frustration.
Almunia made two good saves early in the second half and Arsenal were looking
increasingly desperate. They found a fortunate way back into the game with a
deflected shot by Quincy Owusu-Abeyie in the 63rd minute.
Doncaster, who returned to the Football League two years ago following their
relegation to the Conference in 1998, had captain Stephen Foster to thank in
extra time when cleared a Sebastian Larsson shot off the line.
Senderos then made a terrible hash of trying to clear a McIndoe cross,
allowing substitute Paul Green to slide in and put Doncaster back in front in
the 104th minute.
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