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Unchallenged goal overshadows League Cup match; Palace knocked out

Malta Independent Wednesday, 28 August 2013, 05:59 Last update: about 13 years ago

An English League Cup match featured a bizarre goal Tuesday, when a Birmingham player was allowed to score an equalizer unchallenged by the opposition.

The goal came in extra time of Birmingham's second-round match at Yeovil to help resolve a fair play dispute.

Birmingham, the 2011 League Cup winners, had been leading 2-1 in the 90th minute before Byron Webster scored in stoppage time to take the match into extra-time.

It all started when Birmingham goalkeeper Colin Doyle kicked the ball out of play following an injury to a teammate. By convention, Yeovil would have sent the throw-in back to the visitors.

Instead, with defender Dan Burn still down and referee Darren Sheldrake allowing play to continue, Yeovil defender Webster quickly received the ball from the throw-in and kicked it into an empty net.

Birmingham was incensed at Webster's decision not to give the ball back, sparking ugly scenes between both sets of players before the match entered extra time locked at 2-2.

Compounding Birmingham's fury, Luke Ayling put Yeovil in front 14 minutes into extra time.

But straight from the restart, the Yeovil home fans were stunned when their team bowed to the convention of sportsmanship by allowing Lee Novak to run the ball into the net completely unchallenged to make it 3-3.

Second-tier Birmingham only managed to secure what it saw as a rightful victory by winning the penalty shootout 3-2.

Despite the narrow win, Birmingham manager Lee Clark was considering lodging a formal complaint about Yeovil's conduct.

"I think something has got to be done," Clark said. "It's always easy to give a goal back when you're leading.

"We were winning going into injury time. I'm proud of my players, every single one of them. I said to them before the penalties that whatever happens, even if they missed or scored, they have done the club proud."

Yeovil manager Gary Johnson conceded he sparked the flashpoint by urging his team to play on and not return the ball from the throw-in.

"I apologized to Lee Clark ... because, on reflection, it was ungentlemanly," Johnson said. "However, we get a bit fed up of teams kicking it out for their own players here when we're trying to get a goal back.

"I wanted us to play on but I didn't expect the Birmingham side to stand still, and didn't expect Byron to hook a goal in. I think people should look at this. How many teams are going to kick the ball out for their own players in the last minute?"

***

Palace knocked out of League Cup by 3rd tier side 

Premier League side Crystal Palace was knocked out of the League Cup by third tier side Bristol City on Tuesday as Fulham, Liverpool and Sunderland recovered to avoid being embarrassed by lowly opposition.

Palace, which has lost both of its games back in the topflight, was beaten 2-1 in Bristol.

Sunderland avoided a similar upset by fighting back from 2-0 down at home to another League One side, MK Dons, to win 4-2.

U.S. striker Jozy Altidore started the comeback by scoring his first goal for the club before Connor Wickham netted twice and Adam Johnson drilled in the fourth.

Liverpool was 2-0 up against Notts County, but the League One side scored twice to force the game into extra time when the hosts re-asserted their authority to win 4-2.

Liverpool opened the scoring in the fourth minute through a fine solo effort from Raheem Sterling. Daniel Sturridge then made the most of a defense-splitting pass from Steven Gerrard to put the hosts 2-0 up in the 29th.

But County pulled one back from Yoann Arquin's header in the 62nd, and substitute Adam Coombes slotted in a late equalizer.

But in stoppage time Liverpool recovered its superiority. Sturridge stroked in his second goal of the night and fourth of the season, before substitute Jordan Henderson netted Liverpool's fourth.

"I think we got complacent and they got some belief," Sturridge told British broadcaster Sky Sports. "They started playing better football, but our fitness from pre-season showed at the end."

Martin Jol's Fulham edged past fourth tier side Burton in a penalty shootout after a dramatic 2-2 draw.

Fulham keeper David Stockdale saved the crucial spot-kick from Phil Edwards to send the Premier League club through after they fought back from behind in extra-time.

Adel Taarabt scored his first goal for the Cottagers to put the visitors ahead in the 36th, but Jack Dyer forced extra time with an 85th minute equalizer.

Michael Symes put the League Two side ahead in the first period of extra-time, but Hugo Rodallega ensured penalties would settle the second round match when he leveled with three minutes to go.

At Leyton Orient, Robbie Brady's 106th-minute goal sent Premier League newcomer Hull through with a 1-0 victory over the League One leaders.

Across east London, Ravel Morrison marked his full West Ham debut with his first goal for the club to clinch a 2-1 victory over Cheltenham of the fourth tier at Upton Park.

Sweden striker Johan Elmander marked his full Norwich debut with two goals in the Premier League side's 6-3 win over Bury.

Saido Berahino marked his first West Bromwich Albion start with a 36-minute hat-trick to clinch a 3-0 win over Newport.

Goals from Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez sent Southampton on its way to a 5-1 victory over Barnsley.

   
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