Middlesbrough held in FA Cup

Premier League Middlesbrough were taken to a replay by Nuneaton Borough after a late penalty earned the minor league club a 1-1 draw in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

European champions Liverpool survived an extraordinary tie at second division Luton Town, fighting back from 3-1 down to win 5-3 with substitute Spaniard Xabi Alonso scoring twice, including an injury-time strike from inside his own half. Two Robert Pires goals in the opening 18 minutes gave holders Arsenal a 2-1 win against Cardiff City and league leaders Chelsea survived a late scare to beat Huddersfield by the same score.Nuneaton’s Gez Murphy sent Middlesbrough goalkeeper Bradley Jones the wrong way with 90 minutes on the clock, equalising Gaizka Mendieta’s 15th minute free kick and securing a January 17 replay at the Riverside stadium.”It’s like winning the game to us,” said Nuneaton manager Roger Ashby.”It’s no more than we deserve.”Tamworth, the other minor league club in action, also forced a replay after a 0-0 draw at second division Stoke City while former England captain Alan Shearer equalled Jackie Milburn’s club scoring record with his 200th goal for Newcastle United in a 1-0 defeat of Mansfield.On the day the Premier League clubs joined the world’s oldest knockout cup competition, Everton had a 79th minute Leon Osman strike to thank for saving their blushes at second divison Millwall.Birmingham were held 0-0 by fourth division Torquay.Wigan Athletic were also taken to a replay by second division Leeds United after a 1-1 draw at the JJB stadium.Manchester City were a goal down to third division Scunthorpe at halftime before a second-half Robbie Fowler hattrick ended all thoughts of an upset.Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers also safely negotiated their ties with lower league opposition.LOW DRIVE Only six minutes into Arsenal’s defence of the trophy they won for the 10th time in a penalty shootout last May, a Jose Antonio Reyes pass found Pires on the right and he put the London side in front with a low drive.Twelve minutes later, the Frenchman rushed on to a neat pass from Dennis Bergkamp and another cool finish into the corner of the net doubled the lead.Cardiff gave Arsenal a late fright when Cameron Jerome bundled the ball over the line for a goal three minutes from time and Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia was forced to save at Jeff Whitley’s feet in stoppage time.Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho gave some squad players a run out at Stamford Bridge, making nine changes from the last league outing for the visit of Huddersfield.Striker Carlton Cole made the most of his glimpse of the limelight and opened the scoring in the 12th minute after his shot was charged down by Martin McIntosh.Third division Huddersfield equalised against the run of play in 75th minute when Gary Taylor-Fletcher was put through by Michael Collins and beat Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.Chelsea have not been held to a draw at home in the league this season and seven minutes later Dutch winger Arjen Robben did well down the left and cut the ball back for Eidur Gudjohnsen to tap in the winner.Minor league Burton Albion have their chance to enter English soccer folklore when they host Manchester United yesterday.-Nampa-AFPTwo Robert Pires goals in the opening 18 minutes gave holders Arsenal a 2-1 win against Cardiff City and league leaders Chelsea survived a late scare to beat Huddersfield by the same score.Nuneaton’s Gez Murphy sent Middlesbrough goalkeeper Bradley Jones the wrong way with 90 minutes on the clock, equalising Gaizka Mendieta’s 15th minute free kick and securing a January 17 replay at the Riverside stadium.”It’s like winning the game to us,” said Nuneaton manager Roger Ashby.”It’s no more than we deserve.”Tamworth, the other minor league club in action, also forced a replay after a 0-0 draw at second division Stoke City while former England captain Alan Shearer equalled Jackie Milburn’s club scoring record with his 200th goal for Newcastle United in a 1-0 defeat of Mansfield.On the day the Premier League clubs joined the world’s oldest knockout cup competition, Everton had a 79th minute Leon Osman strike to thank for saving their blushes at second divison Millwall.Birmingham were held 0-0 by fourth division Torquay.Wigan Athletic were also taken to a replay by second division Leeds United after a 1-1 draw at the JJB stadium.Manchester City were a goal down to third division Scunthorpe at halftime before a second-half Robbie Fowler hattrick ended all thoughts of an upset.Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers also safely negotiated their ties with lower league opposition.LOW DRIVE Only six minutes into Arsenal’s defence of the trophy they won for the 10th time in a penalty shootout last May, a Jose Antonio Reyes pass found Pires on the right and he put the London side in front with a low drive.Twelve minutes later, the Frenchman rushed on to a neat pass from Dennis Bergkamp and another cool finish into the corner of the net doubled the lead.Cardiff gave Arsenal a late fright when Cameron Jerome bundled the ball over the line for a goal three minutes from time and Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia was forced to save at Jeff Whitley’s feet in stoppage time.Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho gave some squad players a run out at Stamford Bridge, making nine changes from the last league outing for the visit of Huddersfield.Striker Carlton Cole made the most of his glimpse of the limelight and opened the scoring in the 12th minute after his shot was charged down by Martin McIntosh.Third division Huddersfield equalised against the run of play in 75th minute when Gary Taylor-Fletcher was put through by Michael Collins and beat Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.Chelsea have not been held to a draw at home in the league this season and seven minutes later Dutch winger Arjen Robben did well down the left and cut the ball back for Eidur Gudjohnsen to tap in the winner.Minor league Burton Albion have their chance to enter English soccer folklore when they host Manchester United yesterday.-Nampa-AFP