Eurosport - Thu, 25 Sep 10:09:00 2008
Michel Kuipers' save from Michael Ball landed a huge shock for Brighton as they defeated Manchester City 5-3 on penalties in the Carling Cup.
The League One outfit forced extra-time at the Withdean Stadium after a 1-1 draw and were ahead in the extra period before finally reaching the third round of the competition on spot-kicks - and a home tie against Derby.
Gelson Fernandes had finally taken a chance for wasteful City in the 64th minute from Jo's pass and it looked enough to win it until Glenn Murray slotted an 89th-minute Brighton equaliser.
The shocked looked on when on-loan substitute Joe Anyinsah lashed them ahead five minutes into extra-time but Stephen Ireland's reply 10 minutes later forced the shoot-out.
Excited fans in a record home crowd of 8,729 flooded the pitch at the end after Matt Richards put away the winner from the spot.
But in this classic triumph for poor over rich Brighton's heroes were multiple with Dave Livermore, Tommy Elphick, Glenn Murray and Adam Virgo all scored in the shoot-out before Kuipers' masterful stop.
In their first public appearance since being anointed the "richest club in the world" by the £200million Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover, City sent out six players who started Sunday's 6-0 demolition of Portsmouth.
But they took a long time to impose themselves on the battling League One side, who had won only once at home this season and lost to a Walsall team reduced to nine men before half-time on Saturday.
The nearest thing to a goal in the first half came when Brighton's stand-in captain Steve Thomson, wearing the armband in the absence of injured top scorer Nicky Forster, sliced through the centre of City's defence and drilled his shot against Kasper Schmeichel's left-hand post.
Earlier it had taken 13 minutes for City to muster a shot on goal, with Jo barely testing Kuipers from 25 yards.
The Brazilian striker struggled for long periods, needed treatment after a hefty challenge by Matt Richards and was slow off the mark to a 33rd-minute through-ball which Kuipers came out to collect.
Ball was City's saviour in the 27th minute when the dangerous Thomson burst through onto a low ball which the defender had to hook away.
But City finally got going and Kuipers had to be quick off his line to deny Daniel Sturridge before the visitors wasted a golden chance to go ahead soon afterwards.
Ireland's corner from the right found Richard Dunne rising head and shoulders above all challengers but he steered his header over the crossbar.
Brighton bridged the gap in class with their commitment and work-rate, closing down smartly and preventing any real flow to the City attacks.
City, though, spurned another inviting opening four minutes before the break when Jo set up Pablo Zabaleta to lay off for Johnson but the midfielder's shot skewered wide of the target.
Swiss star Fernandes looked like he had won it when driving in Jo's unselfish assist in the 64th minute and they could have had more but for Kuipers' saves from Jo and Ched Evans before Murray came up with a stunning 89th-minute equaliser after Schmeichel could only parry Thomson's shot.
City had been warned when Schmeichel had to race off his line three minutes earlier to deny Murray.
But they were still strolling five minutes into extra time when Anyinsah fired home in style from 12 yards after great work by fellow substitute Dean Cox.
The loan signing from Preston had the chance to seal it in the first half of extra time, breaking clear only to be overhauled by a desperate Dunne.
And it could have proved costly when Ireland out-fought Elphick and Kuipers to lash home a long ball for a 109th-minute equaliser.
The glory, though, was all Brighton's in the end.
Comment 1 - 20 of 80
RE ALL YOUR PEOPL SO DUMB, COME ON MANCITY ONLY BOUGHT 1 GOOD PLAYER FOR NOW, JUST GIVE THEM TIME TO BUY MORE AND THEN THEY KNOT US OF THE LADDER, MONEY CAN BUY U ANYTHING, U GET HOT @#$% WHEN YOU HAVE MONEY, YOU CAN @#$% 1 @#$% WHILE ANOTHER LICK YOU BALLS. YOUR WIFE AND FRIEND WONT DONT THAT FOR YOU BUT, MONEY CAN DO THAT, MONEY MONEY MONEY, ALL THE COMMENT MUST BE FROM SOME POOR @#$% WHO SUPPORT UNITED. WHICH PERSON WONT WANT MONEY SO STOP BEING, @#$%, @#$%.
Money cannot buy you success....?
The "new" owners have only bought one new player!
These comments may make more sense in a year or two.
As a City supporter, i congratulate Brighton on a great win.
I only hope this serves as a warning to the City players not to get too cocky.
At least City are staying consistant by losing to lower divison clubs! (Doncaster Rovers etc!)
I only wish we had Hart in goal.
I was at the Portmouth match on Sunday, and they were superb.
But we expect City to do these silly things. that's were the phrase "typical city!" comes from.(around here that is!)
Next up is our bogey team "Wigan", so let's see how "typical city!" fairs.
A league one side can do the samba for robinho & co......................lol
its an egg cup ???? the prem and championship teams shouldnt enter this cup ??? its an unrated cup its a micky mouse cup
what a game!!!!! Micky Adams = Brighton legend SEEEEEEEEEEEAGULLS!
sell robinho to chelsea,don,t waste him pliz
come out come out wherever you are
United! United! United!
And to think this is the team that beat Pompey 6-0 on saturday - makes this one even sweeter
Dissapointing result for us City fans, can't offer any excuses. if ever their was a cup to be won this season this was the one, not to be. Well done to Brighton and good luck for the next round.
guess money can't buy all the success
Love it, love it, love it!!! Up the Albion!!
I know that City aren't too bothered about losing this one as its only the carling cup....but still what a result for brighton. So much for the billionaires being able to win everything now:) City wre humbled by a team 2 divisions below ha ha. come on brighton!!!!!!!! this goes to show HAVING MONEY DON'T MEAN YOU ALWAYS WIN:)
lol
Seems money cant bring you everything, there will always be an upset.
Woohoo!!!! Just proofs that money dosent buy you success. Up the Albion!
Have a nice long trip home to Manchester. Up the Albion
Ooooops world beaters LOL
can't wait for the excuses
so where are all the loudmouth CITY fans now, ure quick to comment if UNITED scrape a win or a draw. im sorry but there goes ur only chance to win a trophy no matter how much money u spend in JANUARY.
Boooooo............
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