Chelsea move to last 16 with QPR win; Spurs advance
LONDON: Liverpool reached the fifth round of the FA Cup at the expense of arguably its fiercest rival on Saturday, Dirk Kuyt scoring an 88th-minute goal to earn his side a 2-1 win over Manchester United.
Kuyt hit a low shot past goalkeeper David de Gea to win the game for Liverpool following first-half goals by Daniel Agger and United’s Park Ji-sung.
Victory means Liverpool is unbeaten in its last three matches against United.
Earlier, Chelsea booked their place in the last 16 of the FA Cup on Saturday after a controversial penalty saw them defeat west London rivals Queens Park Rangers 1-0 at Loftus Road.
The first meeting of the two sides since the stormy clash which led to Chelsea captain John Terry being accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand never lived up to the pre-match hype.
Rangers defender Ferdinand was spared the awkward dilemma of whether or not to shake Terry’s hand in the pre-match build-up after the FA ruled there would be no handshake shortly before kick-off.
A disappointing fourth round tie was settled on 62 minutes when Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata sent Paddy Kenny the wrong way from the penalty spot.
However Rangers were seething at referee Mike Dean’s decision to award a penalty, the official ruling that Clint Hill had fouled Daniel Sturridge as the two players came together in the box.
Television replays later suggested Hill had made only the slightest contact with Sturridge, but Dean remained unmoved by QPR protests and Mata stepped up to coolly stroke home the winner.
Meanwhile, The FA Cup proved a welcome distraction for Harry Redknapp after his Tottenham side became the first name in the hat for the fifth round draw with a 1-0 win over Watford on Friday.
Rafael van der Vaart’s long-range goal shortly before half-time turned out to be enough for victory at Watford on Friday night, although the home side deserved a replay having hit the post twice and dominated for lengthy spells. Redknapp had made a dash from Southwark Crown Court as soon as his case had adjourned for the weekend to join up with his players in time for kick-off.
Redknapp had named a strong starting line-up as van der Vaart, Emmanuel Adebayor, Luka Modric, Jermain Defoe and Scott Parker all began against the side in 18th place in the Championship table.
In another match, Stoke easily accounted for an unexpectedly lackluster Derby 2-0 to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Derby had won five straight matches at home and not conceded a goal in its last four, but that run ended within five minutes.
Stoke, last year’s finalist, scored from a corner when Cameron Jerome tapped in.
The match muddled on until the 81st, when another corner set up center back Robert Huth’s volley to double the lead. (Agencies)