Kuyt late show sinks United

A last-gasp goal from substitute Dirk Kuyt saw Liverpool snatch a 2-1 victory over Manchester United yesterday as the Merseysiders booked their place in the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Kuyt punished poor Manchester United defending in the 88th minute, lashing a low shot past David de Gea to send Anfield into raptures after United had failed to deal with a Pepe Reina goal-kick.

The Dutch forward’s late winner was the dramatic final act of a largely trouble-free first meeting between the clubs since the acrimony of the Luis Suarez racism affair earlier this season.

The game had seemed set for a replay at Old Trafford after South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung had swept in a deserved equaliser for United to cancel out Daniel Agger’s opener for Liverpool.

“It’s been a fantastic week for the players. Everyone realises the history of the football club and the players want to be part of it,” said Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, whose side had reached the League Cup final on Wednesday.

“It was a magnificent effort from them. After the game on Wednesday, to come back on Saturday morning and win showed tremendous commitment and great heart.

“United might have been the better side and had more possession but other than them hitting the woodwork once, Pepe (Reina) didn’t have that much to do.”

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was adamant his side had not deserved to lose. “I don’t know how we lost it,” Ferguson said. “But I think in the context of an FA Cup game it can happen. One bad breakaway and you can lose a game.

“It was a bad goal because we didn’t deserve to be beaten. We were the better team. But that’s FA Cup football. It can happen.”

The build-up to the match had been marked by appeals for calm from both Dalglish and Ferguson.

United captain Patrice Evra, who Suarez had been found guilty of racially abusing during their league game in October, was booed relentlessly throughout.

But the contest was played out in a good spirit, with referee Mark Halsey brandishing only one yellow card throughout.

Liverpool had taken the lead on 21 minutes when a corner from Steven Gerrard was nodded home by defender Agger.

United’s Spanish goalkeeper De Gea was at fault for the goal, stranded in no-mans-land as Agger headed in.

But United, who dominated possession throughout the opening half, drew level six minutes from half-time.

A deft flick from Antonio Valencia released Rafael down the right who crossed for the byline for Park, the midfielder driving in a low shot first time to beat Reina for 1-1.

With a replay looming, Reina launched a hopeful long goal-kick forward. Andy Carroll got the flick-on and Kuyt pounced to rifle home only his second goal of the season.

In the other early kick-off, Chelsea meanwhile booked their place in today’s fifth round draw after a disputed penalty settled another match which failed to live up to its potentially explosive billing at Loftus Road.

The game was the first meeting of the two sides since the stormy clash in October which led to Chelsea captain John Terry being accused of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

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.

Newcastle out

Elsewhere yesterday, second tier Brighton, finalists in 1983, ousted Premier League high-riders Newcastle United 1-0 while promotion-chasing League Two side Crawley revived memories of last year’s fairytale FA Cup run by downing Championship outfit Hull, a side 45 places above them.

Crawley, a non-league side a year ago when they reached the last 16 before losing to Manchester United, pulled off a 1-0 win after Matthew Tubbs scored in the 57th minute.

There were wins for Premier League teams in action yesterday. Bolton beat Swansea 2-1 in an all-Premier League clash, while Stoke downed Derby 2-0.

Norwich meanwhile snatched a late victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns, Simeon Jackson pouncing in the 85th minute to clinch a 2-1 win for the Canaries.

Results and standings

FA Cup 4th round

Blackpool 1
Phillips 90 pen;
Sheffield Wed. 1
Morrison 52;

HT: 0-0. Att: 14,042.

Bolton 2
Pratley 45; Eagles 56;
Swansea 1
Moore 43;

HT: 1-1. Att: 11,597.

Brighton 1
Williamson 76 og;
Newcastle 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 21,558.

Derby 0
Stoke 2
Jerome 5; Huth 81;

HT: 0-1. Att: 22,247.

Hull 0
Crawley Town 1
Tudds 57;

HT: 0-0. Att: 22,247.

Leicester 2
Beckford 5, 53;
Swindon 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 19,942.

QPR 0
Chelsea 1
Mata 62 pen;

HT: 0-0. Att: 15,728.

Liverpool 2
Agger 21; Kuyt 88;
Man. United 1
Park 39;

HT: 1-1. Att: 43,952.

Millwall 1
Henderson 86;
Southampton 1
Lambert 31;

HT: 0-1. Att: 8,278.

Sheffield Utd 0
Birmingham 4
Redmond 18; Rooney 38, 78; Elliott 58;

HT: 0-2. Att: 18,072.

Stevenage 1
Stewart 12 og;
Notts County 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 4,439.

West Brom 1
Fortune 54;
Norwich 2
Holt 35; Jackson 85;

HT: 0-1. Att: 17,434.

Playing today
Arsenal-Aston Villa - 17:00
Sunderland-Middlesbrough - 14:30

Next fixtures
Tuesday: Premier League – 20.45 Swansea vs Chelsea; Tottenham vs Wigan; Wolves vs Liverpool. 21.00 Everton vs Man. City; Man. United vs Stoke.
Wednesday: Premier League – 20.45 Aston Villa vs QPR. 21.00 Blackburn vs Newcastle; Bolton vs Arsenal; Fulham vs West Brom; Sunderland vs Norwich.

The Championship
Peterborough 0 - Portsmouth 3
Reading 1 - Bristol City 0

Standings: West Ham 53; Southampton 50; Cardiff 49; Reading, M’Boro, Hull 45; Birmingham 43; Blackpool, Leeds 42; Brighton, Derby 41; Burnley 40; Leicester 38; C. Palace 37; Barnsley 36; Portsmouth 34; Peterborough 33; Watford, Bristol City 30; Millwall 29; Ipswich 28; Nottm Forest 24; Doncaster 23; Coventry 22.

League One
Brentford 5 - Wycombe 2
Exeter 0 - Charlton 1
Hartlepool 4 - Carlisle 0
Leyton Orient 0 - Colchester 1
Rochdale 3 - Bury 0
Tranmere 1 - Huddersfield 1
Yeovil 2 - Preston 1

Standings: Charlton 63; Huddersfield 54; Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday 53; MK Dons 47; Stevenage 45; Carlisle 42; Brentford, Bournemouth 40; Hartlepool, Bury 37; Colchester, Preston 36; Leyton Orient 35; Notts County 34; Oldham, Tranmere 32; Yeovil, Exeter 27; Scunthorpe, Walsall 25; Rochdale 24; Chesterfield, Wycombe 23.

League Two
Acc. Stanley 4 - Gillingham 3
Wimbledon 1 - Aldershot 2
Barnet 2 - Crewe 0
Bristol Rovers 2 - Bradford 1
Dagenham 3 - Rotherham 2
Hereford 0 - Shrewsbury2
Macclesfield 1 - Cheltenham 3
Port Vale 1 - Plymouth 0
Torquay 1 - Northampton 0

Playing today
Burton Albion-Oxford Utd - 16:00

Standings: Cheltenham 55; Southend, Crawley Town 52; Shrewsbury 51; Torquay 50; Swindon Town 49; Accrington 43; Oxford United 42; Gillingham, Port Vale, Burton Albion 41; Crewe 39; Rotherham United 37; Morecambe 36; AFC Wimbledon 35; Bristol Rovers 33; Barnet 32; Aldershot 31; Macclesfield 30; Bradford City 27; Hereford United 26; Dagenham & Redbridge 24; Plymouth 22; Northampton Town 21.