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Two day of Capital One Cup fourth round action. Eight matches. 43 times the ball hits the back of the net.
More than five goals per game on average!
Do not even dare say the magic of the cup is dead.
In my previous post I ended with a plea for that very spirit to live on and Wednesday’s fixtures definitely did not disappoint.
Manchester United graced Stamford Bridge again just days after the saga which unfolded on Sunday which resulted in them taking three Premier League points against leaders Chelsea.
This time it was a place in the quarter-final at stake and Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea were after revenge.
United led 2-1 at the interval but Chelsea threatened a young and frail visiting defence throughout.
Gary Cahill equalised for Chelsea before Nani gave the away side the lead once again before Scott Wootton conceded a 92nd minute penalty gifting the opposition a ticket to extra time.
Goals from Daniel Sturridge and Ramires shot the home side into a 5-3 lead leaving many feeling the game had been put to bed.
Ryan Giggs managed to net a consolation penalty but with just seconds left on the clock his race back to the half-way mark was in vein as the final whistle from Lee Mason shortly followed.
In an all top-flight evening of affairs in the Capital One Cup it was again not just a tale of one drama.
Brendan Rogers’ sketchy Liverpool side hosted his former club Swansea City who produced a somewhat regal display to send their ex-gaffer packing.
Chico gave the visiting side the lead at the half-way mark of the tie before Nathan Dyer doubled the tally for the Jack Army.
Luis Suarez provided retaliation just four minutes later to give Rogers some hope to cling onto.
Before Wednesday’s clash Swansea had scored three goals in their last nine league cup fixtures and De Guzman sent the Welshmen into double figures with his 90th minute tap-in sealing a place in the last-eight.
Meanwhile at Carrow Road Andre Villas-Boas’ tenure as Tottenham Hotspur manager took a further blow as his side scored two goals but managed to lose 2-1.
Gareth Bale gave Spurs the lead in the second half but an 84th minute own goal from Vertonghen brought Norwich back into the tie.
With a quarter-final place up for grabs the pressure was on and an added half an hour loomed.
But Simeon Jackson gave the home side a 2-1 lead in the 87th minute and with Clint Dempsey failing to convert a late penalty it was the Canaries who were left to progress to the final eight.
Tuesday, scintillating.
Wednesday, enthralling.
Cup football, incomparable.
If anyone’s fire for football ever needed reigniting these two autumnal evenings of theatre are just what the doctor ordered.
Ben Hampshire (@BH92)
Through the sports lens 