Carling Cup Round-up: Suarez brace sinks Stoke

26 October 2011 19:27

Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all progress to the Carling Cup quarter finals following away victories on Wednesday night, whilst Blackburn edge Newcastle in a thriller at Ewood Park.

Stoke City 1-2 Liverpool: FT

A second-half brace from Luis Suarez sent Liverpool through to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup after a 2-1 win at Stoke.

Both managers named strong teams, and a crowd of just short of 25,000 at the Britannia Stadium were rewarded with a first half full of chances that ended with Kenwyne Jones heading in the opening goal after Jon Walters had robbed Sebastian Coates.

But the night was to belong to Suarez. Nine minutes into the second half the Uruguayan curled an exquisite shot into the corner before, with extra-time looming, heading in the winner five minutes from time.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-5 Manchester City: FT

Manchester City changed their entire team but the goals flowed again as they demolished Wolves 5-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup at Molineux.

City showed their tremendous strength in depth after Wolves, who also made nine changes, earned a shock lead through Nenad Milijas.

Three goals in four minutes before half-time from Adam Johnson, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko killed off the tie. An own goal from goalkeeper Dorus De Vries and Dzeko's second completed the rout before Jamie O'Hara's consolation effort.

Blackburn Rovers 4-3 Newcastle United: FT

Gael Givet's header in the last minute of extra time secured an amazing 4-3 victory for Blackburn in an extraordinary Carling Cup fourth-round match against Newcastle.

Rovers led 2-0, 3-2 and finally 4-3 as the Magpies refused to accept defeat at Ewood Park. Ruben Rochina and Yakubu struck first for Blackburn, Danny Guthrie and Yohan Cabaye scored last-ditch strikes to send the game into extra time.

Morten Gamst Pedersen made it 3-2, Peter Lovenkrands equalised again from the spot, but then came Givet's last-gasp heroics.

Everton 1-2 Chelsea: FT

Substitute Daniel Sturridge struck late in extra time as 10-man Chelsea edged out an Everton side also a man down 2-1 in the Carling Cup.

Chelsea went ahead through Salomon Kalou after a dreadful error by back-up goalkeeper Jan Mucha but were pegged back by Louis Saha after their number two keeper Ross Turnbull was sent off.

Yet Everton wasted numerous chances to win in normal time and, after losing Royston Drenthe in extra time, Sturridge settled the fourth-round tie after 116 minutes.

Source: DSG