0
LONDON, Dec 19: Liverpool emerged from a wretched domestic slump to reach the English League Cup semifinals with a remarkable 4-3 win at Aston Villa on Wednesday.
The Anfield club have lost four straight games in the Premier League to fall to fifth in the table, but two goals from Danny Murphy and one each from Milan Baros and Steven Gerrard at Villa Park lifted the gloom.
Villa’s Dion Dublin thought he had forced extra time after levelling at 3-3 with six minutes remaining, but in the second minute of injury time Murphy struck again to stun the five-times winners.
Villa had taken the lead with a Darius Vassell penalty and German Thomas Hitzlsperger made it 3-2 in the second half of a match delayed for 80 minutes because of crowd congestion.
Liverpool, six times winners of the competition, now face first division Sheffield United, with Manchester United playing holders Blackburn Rovers in the other two-legged semifinal tie.
Houllier’s side exited the Champions League in November and, though they have progressed in the UEFA Cup, their last premier league win came against West Ham United on November 2.
The delay to the start of the match did not seem to affect Graham Taylor’s Villa side unduly.
The lively Lee Hendrie made their opener after 23 minutes, inducing a rash challenge from Liverpool’s Djimi Traore in the area. England forward Vassell tucked home the spot kick.
Within four minutes, Liverpool were level. Their former midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen was penalised for a foul on Baros and Murphy curled a direct free kick into the top corner.
Dublin had a header saved by Chris Kirkland and Villa midfielder Mustapha Hadji saw an effort cleared off the line by John Arne Riise as the home side continued to threaten.
Gerrard, enduring a personal slump in form recently, made it three after 67 minutes, following up more good work by Baros.
But that was the cue for Villa’s ultimately-doomed comeback. Hitzlsperger, the 20-year-old German midfielder, arrowed a left-footed shot from 25 metres past Kirkland after 72 minutes.
With Liverpool looking shaky at the back, former Manchester United and England striker Dublin benefited from a deflection off Stephane Henchoz to volley home from 15 metres.
However, the visitors were not finished, and another Gerrard raid down the right reaped dividends.
His cross flicked off the heels of Mark Kinsella and fell nicely to Murphy, who hammered a low shot past goalkeeper Peter Enckelman to secure the win.
SEMIFINAL DRAW
Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers Sheffield Unt v Liverpool
First legs to be played in the week beginning Jan 6; second legs to be played in the week beginning Jan 20.
MILAN ROUT ANCONA
AC Milan reached the Italian Cup quarterfinals by thrashing Ancona 5-1 thanks to goals from Rui Costa, Jon Dahl Tomasson (2), Marco Borriello and Leonardo in the second leg of their third-round tie on Wednesday.
Milan seemed headed for a tough night when Ancona striker Maurizio Ganz put his side ahead on aggregate with a left-footed shot on seven minutes after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw.
But the Serie A leaders reacted almost immediately as playmaker Rui Costa equalised in the 10th minute and three minutes later they took the lead when Leonardo’s pass across the area was swept in by Jon Dahl Tomasson. Six minutes before the break Tomasson scored his second and Milan’s third of the night.
Second-half goals by Marco Borriello and Leonardo completed the rout and sent Milan through to the quarterfinals where they will meet Chievo Verona.
Earlier Juventus, 2-0 ahead from the first leg, went through to the last eight despite losing 1-0 to Reggina in the second leg of their third-round tie in Turin.
Roberto Maffucci put visitors Reggina ahead in the 22nd minute after a long ball by midfielder Ricardo Veron.
Juventus however went through 2-1 on aggregate. They now play the winners of the tie between Sampdoria and Perugia.
Chievo’s goalless second-leg draw with Piacenza was enough to put them through to the last eight on away goals after the first leg finished 1-1 a fortnight ago.
Vicenza also progressed to the quarterfinals after a dramatic 2-0 third-round second-leg win at Bologna.
Vicenza had midfielder Michele Marcolini sent off in the 62nd minute, but went through after goals from Alessandro Sgrigna and Stefan Schwoch sealed a 3-1 aggregate win.
Midfielder Sgrigna broke the deadlock two minutes from time. Two minutes later Schwoch added a second from the penalty spot after being brought down by Cristian Zaccardo.
Vicenza, who beat last season’s Italian Cup winners Parma in the previous round, face AS Roma in the last eight.
