20 January 2005	Thursday	09 Zilhaj 1425

LONDON, Jan 19: A bizarre own goal by defender Djimi Traore gifted second division Burnley a 1-0 win over 10-man Liverpool in an FA Cup third round upset on Tuesday.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez bore some of the blame for the Premier League club's exit by fielding a second string team but the rest was down to Traore after his over-elaborate attempt to clear ended up in his own net in the 51st minute.

Liverpool's misery was compounded in the closing minutes at Turf Moor when their Spanish midfielder Antonio Nunez was red-carded for elbowing Burnley midfielder Tony Grant. Burnley's reward is a home tie on Jan 29 with third division Bournemouth, while Leicester City are at fellow second division club Reading after they beat Blackpool 1-0 in a replay.

Benitez, whose second-string sides have reached the League Cup semi-finals, was unrepentant. Asked if it had been a mistake not to field more experienced players, the Spaniard told Sky Sports News: "I don't think so. (I'm happy) with the players, they tried. We worked hard.

As for Traore's antics, Benitez said: "It's a mistake. In the six-yard box, you need to clear the ball." Calamity struck for Liverpool when Burnley's Richard Chaplow crossed from the left and the French-born Traore tried to flick the ball from one foot to the other. Instead he sent it into his net from close range.

It was a memorable win for Burnley, who had plenty of fight but clearly missed the firepower of striker Robbie Blake, who was sold to Premier League Birmingham City earlier this month.

Chaplow should have made it 2-0 midway through the second half but failed to make the most of a free shot inside the area. Benitez sent on strikers Milan Baros and Neil Mellor in a bid to level the tie, which had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but Burnley held on to reach the fourth round. Leicester's Icelandic midfielder Johannes Gudjonsson got their winner with a stunning drive from nearly 30 metres out. -Reuters

THIRD ROUND RESULTS:

THIRD ROUND: Burnley 1 Liverpool 0

THIRD ROUND REPLAY: Blackpool 0 Leicester City 1

PLAYED ON MONDAY: Sawansea City 0 Reading 1.