Hargreaves and Bellamy Make Positive Returns in Carling Cup
September 22, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Craig Bellamy and Owen Hargreaves gave their new clubs some cheer as they helped insure Liverpool and City’s cup progression.
It was all about the returning stars in the Carling Cup last night as Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard helped Liverpool edge past Championship side Brighton and Owen Hargreaves’ new Manchester outfit, the blue half of City, dumped the holders Birmingham out of the tournament.
Liverpool made the journey to the south coast knowing that their hosts had been the surprise package of the Championship this season and were in good form.
They handed Welsh international Craig Bellamy his first start since returning to the club from Manchester City this summer while Reds fans were delighted to see captain Steven Gerrard on the bench ready to make his return after a six-month injury absence.
And it was the former West Ham, Blackburn and Cardiff striker who opened the scoring after seven minutes. A quieter than usual Luis Suarez poked the ball past his marker and Bellamy ran on to it before coolly firing across Kasper Ankergren in to the Brighton net.
The Reds began to dominate proceedings and Bellamy rattled the Brighton crossbar with a swerving 35-yard free-kick before young Jay Spearing smacked a post from slightly closer in with his left foot.
After the re-start Brighton looked more composed and former Anfield trainee Craig Noone smashed against the Liverpool crossbar from 25 yards as the game became more interesting.
There were chances for both sides, and the game never looked that comfortable until a stinging counter attack involving Maxi Rodriguez saw Dirk Kuyt fire in the second after being played in by the Argentine, who by then had Gerrard on the field, much to their supporters’ delight.
There was still time for Brighton to pull one back as Ashley Barnes continued his fine scoring form from the penalty spot after Jamie Carragher hauled down former Spain international Vicente, but it was too little, too late for The Seagulls.
At the Etihad Stadium, big-spending City rolled out the changes for this clash with Championship side Birmingham and it really highlighted their strength in depth that the 11 they fielded included Carlos Tevez, former United star Hargreaves, Kolo Toure and Mario Balotelli.
Hargreaves, who had only played six minutes before this fixture since 2008, but lasted 57 here, opened the scoring with a stunning drive from 22 yards that must have been a mighty relief after his injury torment of the last three years.
Balotelli made it 2-0 by firing in Pablo Zabaleta’s cross, and although the returning Kolo Toure from a drugs ban had to clear off the line from Jean Beausejour’s free-kick, City never looked rattled.
Everton are also through courtesy of a 2-1 extra-time win over West Bromwich Albion. The Baggies had the lead from a Chris Brunt penalty but Marouane Fellaini equalised in the 90th minute to extend the fixture and captain Phil Neville settled it in extra time courtesy of a stunning strike.
Ten-man Chelsea capitalised on a missed Fulham penalty by Pajtim Kasami in normal time to win the eventual shootout 4-3 when new Cottagers signing Brian Ruiz hit the crossbar with his kick, while there were also wins for Southampton and Cardiff; the latter dumping Leicester City out 7-6 in an equally dramatic penalty shootout.
By Leigh Gruffydd Sanders
[Image courtesy of Jon Candy]
