Source: Eurosport
Villa secure shootout success
Brad Guzan emerged as the Aston Villa hero as Martin O'Neill's men secured their place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Sunderland, following a 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light.[LNB]The American, an understudy to Brad Friedel at club and international level, saved Kenwyne Jones' late penalty to take the game to extra-time and ultimately penalties.[LNB]And he maintained his excellence by saving three of Sunderland's four spot-kicks in the shoot-out with Ashley Young converting the clincher to send Villa into the last eight.[LNB]The Wearsiders will feel hard done by but they only have themselves to blame after squandering some gilt-edged chances, none more presentable than that which fell to Kieran Richardson in the closing minutes of the extra period.[LNB]Having burst clean through, the former Manchester United midfielder should have scored but hammered his shot straight into the chest of Guzan.[LNB]The Villa stopper then saved Sunderland's first two spot-kicks, from Andy Reid and Lorik Cana, and although Gabriel Agbonlahor missed for the visitors, Guzan denied Jordan Henderson to secure victory for Martin O'Neill's men.
