The Barclays Premier League’s three clubs: Arsenal, Birmingham City, West Ham United and League One’s side Ipswich Town, have all qualified for the semi-final of the Carling Cup.
Arsenal defeated Wigan Athletic in the quarter-finals by 2-0 at the Emirates on Tuesday’s freezing night.
The Gunners had several good chances in the starting minutes of the match but failed to capitalize on them. The first goal of the match was scored by the Captain of Lactics, Antolin Alcaraz, who gifted Arsene Wenger’s side a lead
by scoring an own goal on the stroke of half-time.
Moreover, Nicklas Bendtner’s goal in the second half ensured a place for Arsenal in the final four of the Carling Cup.
On the same night, West Ham United thrashed League Cup holders, Manchester United, by four goals thanks to the Hammers’ American midfielder, Jonathan Spector, who scored his first two goals of English football that night in almost
6 years.
The American midfielder has never scored a single goal since joining English Football in 2005. Along with the two shocking strikes of Spector, Carlton Cole did more damage to the Red Devils by scoring a brace in the second half
to ensure a berth in the semi-finals of the League Cup. This, however, also proved to be Manchester United’s first defeat of this season and one of the heaviest defeats in recent history.
Manchester United made 10 changes to the side that thrashed Sam Allardyce’s side last weekend by scoring seven goals, with only Anderson retaining his place in the team.
West Ham United had a goal disallowed for offside before Jonathan Spector opened the scoring for the home side in the 22nd minute. Without a doubt, Victor Obinna was the stand out performer of the Hammers, he supplied
all three assists of the match against Manchester United.
On the next night of the Carling Cup’s Quarter Finals, Birmingham City’s summers signing, the towering Serbian Nikola Zigic, sealed the place for the Blues in the semi-finals after nine years. Nikola Zigic scored the last minute
goal against Birmingham’s city rivals Aston Villa at St Andrew’s Stadium to win the highly contested derby quarter final fixture.
Sebastien Larsson who opened scoring from a penalty for Birmingham City, was later cancelled by Villa’s talismanic striker Gabriel Agbonlahor. Just five minutes from the ninety minutes were up, Nikola Zigic’s deflection settled
the tie.
In the other quarter-final, League One’s side Ipswich town managed to advance by defeating Barclays Premier League newly promoted club West Bromwich Albion by one goal and sealing their place in the last four of the Carling Cup.
There was only one goal scored in the match which was also a second half penalty. The home side was given a penalty for a foul of Ipswich Town attacker in the six yard box. The penalty was taken efficiently by Grant Leadbitter
which ensured a victory over West Bromwich Albion.
Carling Cup Semi Final Draws:
After the cup holders, Manchester United crashed out of the competition, Arsenal are the hot favourites to win this cup. Now, the Gunners have a golden opportunity to win some silverware and end their five year trophy drought as
they have high chances of going forward to the finals, going up against Ipswich Town in the semi-finals.
West Ham United’s reward for beating Manchester United is that they will play Birmingham City for the double legged semi final of the Carling Cup.
The first round of Carling Cup’s semi-final will start on the 10th of January.
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