or to join or start a new Discussion

96 Comments
Article Rating 3 Stars

Live Text - League Cup Quarter Finals

Hull City 2-2 Arsenal PENS
Portsmouth 1-2 Liverpool FT
Manchester City 3-2 Wigan Athletic FT
Wolves 1-2 Birmingham City FT

-------------------------------

14:00 Away we go then, the referees kick us off in all the games. A great atmosphere in the midlands where both clubs will be looking to reach the first final of the season.

14:03 Good start from Hull who look to get straight at Arsenal, Vidal picks out a fine pass to find gbonlahor who has the pace to escape down the left and he floats a cross in but Krul is out to gather ahead of Bent. Bright start from the hosts.

14:05 Almost the perfect start at Fratton Park for Portsmouth. Sergi Roberto getting past a challenge and dinking the ball over the pushed up Liverpool for defence, Kroos has room to run into and he looks to cross but Taiwo gets back well and puts it out for a corner. Which causes havock in the defence as Bruma fails to clear and Kjaer shoots just over. Nervy opening moments for last seasons runners up.

14:06 Meanwhile though the winners in 2010/11, Birmingham, have started with all the possession against Wolves but they are struggling to cut them open and theyve yet to had a shot as the hosts hold firm. Over at Etihad its a scrapp game, Wigan looking to get on top early in the midfield but Man City holding them back and neither team managing to cause trouble yet.

14:08 Portsmouth are getting the better of this Liverpool defence at the moment and they have another great chance. Montolivo getting away from Moutinho and playing it to the left for Ramirez who crosses for Soldado, getting in between the two centre backs and he volleys from point blank, somehow though Mandanda has pulled off a wonder save and the corner is headed clear well by Bruma. Portsmouth on top.

14:10 GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Wigan Athletic(Karim Benzema)
Well its been a scrappy game so far but one moment of brilliance in midfield by Hernanes gets him away from M'Bia and Pirlo and he slips the ball through for the run of Karim Benzema and the striker nets for his 6th game in a row.

14:13 Over at Mollineux the visitors have had the majority of the game but still unable to find space for a shot and they almost fell behind when a long ball forward for Wolves was headed out to the wing by Drogba for Nasri into space and his low cross just evaded Ayew at the back post. Almost a disaster for Birmingham.

14:15 Hull and Arsenal very open now and Coquelin finds Ninis whos cross is headed onto the bar by Dzeko and Ruiz gets it out to Kolarov who breaks forward with pace finding Vidal who slips in Bent and somehow Krul pulls off an extroardinary save. A cracking game at the KC. At fratton park, Portsmouth continue to look the more dangerous but Liverpool had a good chance on the break, Douglas Costa running at Gonul before finding Balotelli but before he can shoot hes croweded out and Kjaer clears.

14:17 GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Birmingham City(Arjen Robben)
Finally, Birmingham break down a stubborn Wolves side. If you cant get through a solid back four what do you do? You do exactly what Arjen Robben has done right here, recieving the ball on the right he shapes up against Baines, then instead cuts inside into mid field pulls away from Song and fires a shot from 30 yards that Cesar has no chance with. Brilliant goal.

14:20 Portsmouth are causing a lot of problems for Liverpool who are at times getting caught too far up the pitch and Montolivo is just picking his passes, Ramirez sees his cross well cleared by Bruma before Soldado can get onto it but a few minutes later, Roberto is played through and gets the better of Ivanovic, somehow though Mandanda makes another great save to keep Liverpool level.

14:22 And we have a great save at the KC too. Willian getting away down the left cutting in and getting into the box to shoot and Krul comes out to amazing affect, pushing his shot away, it falls to Milner who lobs it back over Krul and the ducth keeper manages to get back and tip the shot over his bar. Arsenal were on top before that though, Malouda having a shot saved and Rooney firing wide.

14:25 Chance for Birmingham to double their lead as Gotze lines up a shot on the edge of the box but Chielini deflects it over his bar and then Cesar claims the corner. At the Eihad signs of Wigan getting back into it with Coutinho creating a chance for Zarate who fired wide, but so far a dull game.

14:27 GOAL! Portsmouth 1-0 Liverpool(Roberto Soldado)
Finally Portsmouth have the break through, Toulalan dissposses Pastore too easilly and finds Montolivo who chips the ball out to Kroos who plays it in behind for Gonul and his cross is met by Roberto Soldado who this time manages to get his shot past Mandanda. Liverpool need to pick up now, they have been shakey and if they continue this Portsmouth have a very easy passage to the semis.

14:29 GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Wigan Athletic(Philip Coutinho)
A goal for Wigan and its their loan star. Gignac battles for it on the edge of the City area and it looks lost when Smalling gets it away from the striker but Phillip Coutinho gets the ball and skips into the area past Smalling and confidently slots it past De Gea to level the tie.

14:31 Very even game at the KC both teams struggling to make the break through in an open game, the keepers on top at the moment. Wolves have started to get forward a bit more and Song finds Ayew who cuts in and shoots but it curls just wide.

14:34 GOAL! Hull City 0-1 Arsenal(Edin Dzeko)
The deadlock is finally broken and its Arsenal who get the lead. Malouda loses out too easilly to Ansaldi but the ball breaks to Coentrao who has the pace to get to the byline and cut the ball into the area for Edin Dzeko to meet, getting infront of Ruiz and firing past Stekelenburg.

14:36 First real chance for Liverpool who are starting to look good going forward. Bruma wins the ball and plays it out to Taiwo who links with Douglas Costa and they work a cross which Balotelli heads just over. Brighter from the away team.

14:38 GOAL! Wolves 1-1 Birmingham City(Didier Drogba)
Against the run of play Wolves get back on level terms. Walker attacks for Birmingham and his cross is intercepted by Ferdinand who plays it to Song and then Gerrard who gets the ball out to Ayew before hes brought down by Essien. Play is allowed to go on though with Wolves coming forward and Ayew finds the overlapping run of Baines who crosses and Didier Drogba heads powerfully past Szczesny. Birmingham players look shocked.

14:40 Chance at both ends at Fratton Park. First Portsmouth beating the offside trap yet again but Soldado shoots at Mandanda who pushes it away to safety and Bruma clears towards Isla who gets forward finding Maggio who plays in a great ball and somehow both Balotelli and Douglas Costa fail to get a head to it and Portsmouth survive the counter, they are on top, the Liverpool midfield completley annonymous right now.

14:42 Over at the KC the Dzeko goal seems to have given Arsenal complete control over proceedings and Rami has to be at full stretch to keep Ninis' cros finding Rooney clearuing out for a corner and then Ruiz has to head away from underneath his own bar as Vidic goes close to doubling the lead from the corner.

14:44 Late chance for a goal in a rather subdued game at the Etihad. Nani cuts inside and gets past Marchena into the box but his cut back is behind Gourcuff and Wigan clear. Fans will be hoping for a much better second half there as the first is brought to a close by Mike Dean.

14:47 The other three games have reached half time and those three have brought some brilliant action, a half time report is on its way.

14:53 So the first half at the KC was a good one, both teams playing good attacking football and creating chances, both back 5's remained solid until Coentrao's burst of pace created a chance for Dzeko and he wasn't going to miss, the half time score has Arsenal 1-0 up. At the midlands derby it was all Birmingham for basicaly the whole half, Wolves remained stubborn and tough to break down but Robben managed to get them ahead with a brilliant goal. To everyones surprise though Wolves scored. A swift counter and a good descision by the referee to allow play to continue from an Essien foul and Drogba headed in a Baines cross. The game at Fratton Park has also been largely one sided, Portsmouth looking to take advantage of a shakey high line by Liverpool but Mandanda kept the visitors in it and there were signs towards the end of a comeback. The final game at Manchester City has been rather queit but Wigan go in with a 1-1 scoreline and will be looking forward to the second half.

14:58 The teams are coming back out and it looks like there will be a change at Fratton Park, Ramires stripped down and ready to come on. Liverpool needed more presence in midfield and that might be the change to change the game.

15:00 Liverpool have changed their minds it seems, Ramires has gone to sit back down so we are back underway around the grounds, no changes.

15:03 Liverpool seemed to have pushed the defence back a bit and the midfield is suddenly pressing, Diarra wins the ball from Roberto and plays it to Moutinho who picks out Balotelli looking to get in behind and his shot is well saved by Akinfeev. Better from the visitors.

15:05 Better at The Etihad too, Nani finding Richards and his cross finds Suarez at the back post and Al Habsi makes a wonderful save to deny the striker a goal, better start to this one.

15:08 Good chance for Birmingham too, Essien finding the run of Walker who powers forward quickly and crosses towards Van Persie who heads over under pressure, a good chance but Ferdinand defended well there.

15:09 GOAL! Portsmouth 1-1 Liverpool(Javier Pastore)
Much better by Liverpool. They pressurise well and Bruma wins the ball and finds Maggio who leads a counter attack, he plays it to Isla who bursts into the box and sets it back for Javier Pastore to level the tie, he was invisible in the first half and for the Portsmouth defence he was still invisible no one tracked his run and Liverpool are back on level terms early in the half.

15:12 Birmingham have started this half very well and Gotze has his first real run at the Wolves back line, hes brought down by De Jong and they have a free kick. Which Van Persie curls goalwards and Cesar has to make a great save to claw the ball away from the top corner, Wolves hanging on a bit here.

15:14 Chance at the KC, to Hull. Vidal, M'Vila and Milner working the ball well and it goes out wide to Willian who crosses low for Bent to fire at goal and somehow Krul makes the save yet again, they are going to have to do something special to beat him today.

15:15 Changes at Mollinuex. Wolves bring on Romelu Lukaku for Andre Ayew and Birmingham bring on Wilshere for Martinez, the young spaniard hasn't really stamped his authority on this game.

15:17 You can see why Wolves have brought Lukaku on now, Birmingham are putting them under a lot of pressure but Lukaku and Drogba give them good outlets, they almost battle their way into a shooting position but Vermealen tidies up well.

15:18 Another chance at Fratton Park and its Liverpool again Costa's cross almost falling for Maggio but Dominguez clears. Liverpool on top but Portsmouth have had chances too. At the KC Hull are looking for an equalizer but Arsenal just about keeping them at arms length.

15:20 GOAL! Manchester City 1-2 Wigan Atheltic(Mauro Zarate)
Do we a cupset on, last season Wigan finished 17th but this year they are looking like a good unit and they have taken the lead here. Pirlo doing well to pick out Gignac and he nods it down for Mauro Zarate to curl past De Gea. Man City have to step it up now.

15:20 Change at Fratton Park, Sergi Roberto who has looked good is replaced for another debutant, Josep Ilicic.

15:22 Chance for Birmingham now as they look for a second goal, Van Persie finds Gotze who crosses towards kaka but Chielini clears well, Birmingham still on top, Wolves still defending very well. Man City looking to get back level and they come close, Suarez playing it to Abidal and his cross has to be smacked clear by Luisao as Wigan hold on to their lead.

15:24 Chance, and its for Portsmouth, Ilicic just on does well to get space and plays the ball out to Kroos his cross is cleared by Bruma and then Toulalans follow up is well blocked by Ivanovic as Liverpool clear. Over at the KC Hull still knocking away but they lose the ball and Rooney plays a great ball towards Malouda who has Dzeko in acres of space but goes himself and shoots well wide.

15:25 Changes at the KC see Matri replacing Willian for Hull, a surprising change hes looked threatning. Arsenal make a double change, young Kiko Macheda is on for Dzeko and Young replaces Malouda. Change for Liverpool too Adrian Lopez replacing Douglas Costa. Man City bring on Valencia for Gourcuff and Birmingham looking to unlock the Wolves defence take of Gotze and on comes Gervinho.

15:28 With Birmingham applying all the pressure theres a good chance for a goal for Wolves here. Drogba holding the ball up and finding Lukaku who has the pace and power to get away from his man and with Drogba in the box he just has to pull it back but his cross is dreadful and it goes straight out of play. Portsmouth and Liverpool has gone a bit quiet both teams looking to get back in control but neither managing it. Good effort from Hull too Milners cross finding Matri but he cant beat Krul.

15:29 GOAL! Manchester City 2-2 Wigan Athletic(Luis Nani)
Brilliant play from Man City to get them back level. Valencia starting it by getting the ball and coming forward, finding Hernanes who gives it to Suarez who plays it to Benzema and his neat touch into the box gives Luis Nani a one on one with Al Habsi and he chips it over the keeper.

15:30 Double change for Liverpool looking to get back on top, Bale and Cavani replace Taiwo and Maggio. For Wolves Dann replaces chielini who has worked hard today.

15:32 That change gives Liverpool an instant chance as Adrian sends Bale away and his cross finds cavani who heads it back across goal and Kjaer clears acrobatically off the line. Chance for Arsenal too at a lively KC, Fletcher playing it forward for Young and his cross is headed behind by Ruiz, the ball is delivered in and Barzagli heads over.

15:33 GOAL! Manchester City 3-2 Wigan Athletic(Micah Richards)
Man City have turned it around! They are really turning it on now and Hernanes flicks it into the path of Richards who gets into the box sets up Suarez who hits the post it comes back to Micah Richards who puts City back infront.

15:35 Wigan make a change then, Zhirkov and Benayoun come on for Fucile and M'Bia as they look to get back to 3-3. Rhodes replaces Agbonlahor for Hull, Gomez comes on for Ramirez for Portsmouth and Martin replaces Gerrard for Wolves.

15:37 Chances at both ends by the sea. Gomez heads it down for Ilicic to shoot and it hits the post and goes wide. Moments later Liverpool have a chance, Pastore picking out Balotelli who cuts inside and finds Isla outside him and his cross is met by Adrian who puts it over.

15:38 GOAL! Wolves 1-2 Birmingham City
They've put pressure on to no avail but finally they have their chance and they take it. Wilshere finds Gervinho who beats Maicon, crosses low and there's Robin Van Persie to tap into the net and put them 2-1 up.

15:40 So with 5 minutes plus injury time left we have Arsenal, Birmingham and Man City going through whilst Portsmouth and Liverpool is heading to extra time. Hull make a change and its Alesandro Del Piero on for M'Vila.

15:41 Great chance for Wigan, Benayoun playing it to fellow sub Zhirkov and his cross falls at the feet of Gignac but he takes too long to shoot and Smalling gets across and clears. Portsmouth and Liverpool still going at it but defences looking firm now.

15:43 Wolves go long and Lukaku beats Walker in the air to head down for Martin who is dragged down and its a free kick to Wolves 25 yards out and just to the left of the box, Drogba will take.

15:44 And he strikes it well, Szczesny can only push out into the box and Ferdinand shoots it hits the post and comes out to De Jong who fires over. That was a great chance and theres not long left now.

15:45 Its full time at Fratton Park where we will have extra time, and its full time at The Etihad and Man City are first into the semi finals.

15:46 GOAL! Hull City 1-1 Arsenal
Late equalizer and finally they have beaten the Arsenal back line. Kolarov wins a corner, which is delivered in and Adil Rami rises powerfully to head past Krul. 1 minute of injury time left.

15:47 Full time at the KC and we will have Extra time there too, Wolves coming forward in their game.

15:48 Great chance, Martin crosses into the box it comes back out and Nasri clips it goalwards, Szczesny comes out for what is going to be an easy catch but Lukaku gets infront of them and flicks it forward for Drogba who shoots with the goal at his mercy and a combination of Pepe and Vermealen somehow block on the line before Essien hacks it away. Seconds later the whistle goes and Birmingham go into the semis. Extra time will start in 2 minutes.

15:50 Extra time gets going at the KC and Fratton park, half an hour seperates these teams from a place in the semi finals.

15:54 Its been sloppy though so far no real chances. At the KC the most we've had is Milner crossing way too high and at Fratton Park Kroos has skied a volley.

15:56 First real chance though in extra time for Liverpool, Moutinho picking out Bale bursting forward his fresh legs take him past 3 and his cut back finds Diarra on the edge of the area but his shot is straight at Akinfeev.

15:58 Chance for Portsmouth now as Ilicic beats a challenge and finds a cross that Gomez beats Bruma too but he heads just over.

16:00 GOAL! Hull City 2-1 Arsenal(Jordan Rhodes)
Hull lead in extra time, its been quite so far but Vidal dissposses a tired Coquelin and finds Del Piero who picks a good pass out to Kolarov and his ball in is met at the back post by Jordan Rhodes who may have made himself a Hull legend very quickly by heading in.

16:02 So as we go into the final few minutes of the first half of extra time, Hull are going through to the semis whilst Portsmouth and Liverpool remain level and theres very little seperating them.

16:05 A quick change over and we are back underway at both grounds, 15 minutes left.

16:08 Chance, glorious chance. Van Der Wiel finds Kroos whos cross is headed away by Bruma but as it comes back out to Montolivo he finds Soldado in the area and he slides it to Gomez who has a tap in but he hits the post, i don't know how he missed but he has and Liverpool breath a sigh of relief.

16:10 Its all Arsenal at the KC now as they push Hull further back, Youngs trickery caused problems and set up Macheda who turned and forced the save from Stekelenburg, 10 minutes for Hull to hold on.

16:12 GOAL! Portsmouth 1-2 Liverpool(Edison Cavani)
That chance at the other end looks crucial now. Bale sets off on a run and he beats Kroos, Van Der Wiel then steps inside Kjaer he gets to the edge of the area and slides in a great cross and Edison Cavani taps in, showing Mario Gomez how its done.

16:15 5 minutes left then for Arsenal and Portsmouth to save their cup run.

16:17 Chance for Liverpool to seal the win on the break and its Bale causing all the problems he squares it to Adrian whos shot is well kept out by Akinfeev. Portsmouth starting to go long now.

16:19 Chances in both games, Macheda sets up Young to curl it goalwards and it hits the post and Rami clears. Portsmouths long ball tactics almost works as Gomez flicks on and it falls to Kjaer but Mandanda smothers his shot.

16:20 GOAL! Hull City 2-2 Arsenal(Darren Fletcher)
And they've done it, resiliant Arsenal have taken it to penalties. The ball is pinging around the box and it falls to Darren Fletcher on the edge and he hits it as hard as he can, beating Stekelenburg, 2-2.

16:20 Full time and penalties it is at the KC. At Fratton Park the whistle goes and Liverpool join Birmingham and Man City in the Semi Final draw. They had one last chance but Dominguez shot was saved and held onto by Mandanda. Good performance from both sides but the pace of Bale gave Liverpool the win late on.

16:22 So to penalties and Hull will take first infront of the Cranswick stand. Bent is up first.

PENALTY SCORED - Hull City 1-0 Arsenal(Darren Bent)

PENALTY SCORED - Hull City 1-1 Arsenal(Wayne Rooney)

PENALTY MISSED - Hull City 1-1 Arsenal(Alesandro Matri)

PENALTY SAVED - Hull City 1-1 Arsenal(Ashley Young)

PENALTY SCORED - Hull City 2-1 Arsenal(James Milner)

PENALTY SAVED - Hull City 2-1 Arsenal(Sortiris Ninis)

PENALTY SAVED - Hull City 2-1 Arsenal(Alexander Kolorov)

PENALTY SCORED - Hull City 2-2 Arsenal(Fabio Coentrao)

PENALTY SCORED - Hull City 3-2 Arsenal(Arturo Vidal)

PENALTY MISSED - Hull City 3-2 Arsenal(Darren Fletcher)

Hull City join the other 3 in the semi final draw after beating Arsenal on penalties. They will be happy. Thanks for joining us with the live text.

posted on 4/12/11

I'll be very annoyed if it doesn't at least go to penalties tbh...

posted on 4/12/11

tbh punting i was annoyed when i lost to birmingham.

but tbh if you do lose just forget about it and try in another comp and if you have done better you wont care about this game

posted on 4/12/11

yep, such is life. Just I would have fully understood a draw, particularly as VD Wiel has more than enough pace in my mind to contain Bale.

ho hum, good match LSTD

posted on 4/12/11

and well done on an entertaining Live Text

posted on 4/12/11

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

posted on 4/12/11

predo i got was a late liverpool win think both teams very equal but bale is probably one of the quickest if not the quickest so hard to stop.

good game though and we both made quite a lot of changes so full strength game will be very entertaining

posted on 4/12/11

draw im about to do now

posted on 4/12/11

yep I agree LSTD I'll get my revenge

arsenal in the league next

posted on 4/12/11

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

Sign in if you want to comment
RATE THIS ARTICLE
Rate Breakdown
5
0 Votes
4
0 Votes
3
0 Votes
2
0 Votes
1
0 Votes

Average Rating: 3 from 2 votes

ARTICLE STATS
Day
Article RankingNot Ranked
Article ViewsNot Available
Average Time(mins)Not Available
Total Time(mins)Not Available
Month
Article RankingNot Ranked
Article ViewsNot Available
Average Time(mins)Not Available
Total Time(mins)Not Available