Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham advance

(AP)
Updated: 2006-11-09 08:34

LONDON - Premier League clubs Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham all won Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of England's League Cup.


Chelsea's Michael Essien (L) celebrates his goal against Aston Villa with team mate Didier Drogba during their English League Cup fourth round soccer match at Stamford Bridge, London, November 8, 2006. [Reuters]

Chelsea defeated Aston Villa 4-0, advancing behind Frank Lampard's first-half goal and second-half tallies by Andriy Shevchenko, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba.

Liverpool edged Birmingham City 1-0 with Daniel Agger scoring from close range late in the first half.

Emmanuel Adebayor's 85th-minute goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory at Everton. The Gunners had the edge after James McFadden was sent off in the 19th minute.

Tottenham had a tougher time than the other three Premier League clubs.

Spurs needed extra-time goals by Jermain Defoe and Tom Huddlestone to win 3-1 over Port Vale, a team two leagues below Tottenham. Huddlestone scored his second goal of the game nine minutes into the extra time and Defoe added the insurance eight minutes later.

Huddlestone also scored in the 80th after Leon Constantine gave Port Vale a 1-0 lead in the 64th.

In fourth-round games on Tuesday, Wycombe, Southend, Charlton and Newcastle reached the quarterfinals. Manchester United was the major upset, beaten 1-0 by Southend, which is ranked more than 40 places behind the Red Devils in English soccer.

The League Cup is England's No. 2 cup competition, and Premier Leagues teams reflected that Wednesday in their lineups. Liverpool made nine changes from the team that beat Reading over the weekend, and Arsenal started a completely different side than the one that lost to West Ham on Sunday.

The draw for the quarterfinals is Saturday.

In London, Lampard gave Chelsea the lead in the 32nd after a defensive mistake by Villa's Steven Davis. Midfielder Michael Ballack robbed the ball from Davis, and then crossed to Lampard who converted with a header.

Shevchenko added his in the 65th, Essien got another in the 82nd and Drogba capped the scoring two minutes later.

Liverpool dominated Birmingham but had managed only Agger's goal late in the first half. Liverpool suffered a setback when Mohamed Sissoko was taken off in the first half with a possible dislocated right shoulder.

Liverpool's Craig Bellamy was stopped on a penalty in the 64th that should have sealed the victory.

Arsenal had the man advantage from the 19th when McFadden was sent off for abusive language. But the Gunners didn't break through until the 85th with Adebayor's goal.

Tottenham drew even with Port Vale with 13 minutes remaining when Huddlestone's free kick appeared to have deflected in off a defender. That forced extra time, when the Spurs had most of the play.



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