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| Unbelievable scenes were witnessed up and down the country in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night, but none more so that at the Madejski Stadium, as Arsenal came out on top of a 12-goal thriller to win 7-5 against against Reading. |
But the Gunners got what turned out to be a crucial goal on the stroke of half-time, as Theo Walcott pulled one back with a sly chip over Adam Federici, though at the time it merely seemed a consolation.
Arsenal were much improved after the break, and they showed a glint of belief after a 64th minute Olivier Giroud goal, which turned to elation in the final moments with two smash-and-grab goals from Laurent Koscielny and Walcott to level the score.
The madness continued into extra-time as Marouane Chamakh put Arsenal into the lead for the first time, which was shortly cancelled out by Reading’s summer signing Pavel Pogrebnyak with an unchallenged headed goal.
It all proved too much for the Royals though, as a late goal from Chamakh and a hat trick strike from Walcott sealed off the game and left Reading players and fans shocked by what will surely be remembered as one of the greatest cup comebacks ever see on English soil.
Late drama was also observed at Swindon’s County Ground, as a second Christian Benteke goal ensured Villa survived a late Robins comeback to win 3-2.
Villa went into half-time with a 2-0 lead through strikes from Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor, but two Swindon goals in three minutes from Miles Storey late into the second half piled the pressure on their Premier League opponents.
Villa kept their composure though, barely, as a pull-back from Eric Lichaj found Benteke who scored the winner in stoppage-time to spare Paul Lambert from further woes.
League Two side Bradford caused the upset of the evening, taking Wigan to extra-time and winning 4-2 on penalties.
120 minutes were not enough to produce a goal from either side and the Premier League outfit were easily the better team, but they couldn’t seem to find a way past Bradford goalkeeper Matt Duke, who was on the end of a total of 22 shots on target from the Latics.
Leeds caused an upset of sorts by dumping newly promoted Southampton out of the competition with a 3-0 win at Elland Road.
A first-half goal from Michael Tonge sent them on their way, with a late El-Hadji Diouf strike and an injury-time Luciano Becchio penalty securing their place in the last-eight for the first time since 1996.
Meanwhile, the Tees-Wear derby went in Middlesbrough’s favour as they knocked out rivals Sunderland with a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light.
Scott McDonald’s headed goal at the close of the first half was enough to secure the win for Boro, as the Black Cat’s failed to build on their superior possession.
Late efforts from George Friend and Faris Harounboth almost doubled Boro's lead, but it was McDonald’s early flick that secured their passage into the last-eight.
source: http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/121030/capital-one-cup-round-royal-hearts-broken-arsenal-comeback-184220#ixzz2AqQk07P0
