20 Feb 2011

Everton win penalty shootout to beat Chelsea in FA Cup

10:48 am on 20 February 2011

Everton have knocked holders Chelsea out of English football's FA Cup, while Manchester United ended non-league Crawley Town's fairytale run with a lacklustre 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.

A Wes Brown header after 28 minutes was enough for record 11-times winners United but the Premier League leaders had to battle all the way, the minor leaguers emerging as the moral victors from their fifth round tie.

Crawley are 93 places below United in the English League pyramid but came close to equalising in stoppage time when Richard Brodie headed against the top of the bar after he had a good chance to score in the 72nd minute but volleyed wide.

At Stamford Bridge in London Everton continued Chelsea's slump, winning their fourth-round replay 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

With the shootout scores at 3-3, Ashley Cole missed his penalty for Chelsea and Everton captain Phil Neville sealed the victory by scoring with his kick.

An extra-time goal from Frank Lampard looked like giving Chelsea a 1-0 win to keep them on course to become the first club for 125 years to win the FA Cup three times in succession.

But Leighton Baines equalised for Everton with a free kick in the last minute of extra time to book a fifth round clash with Championship side Reading.

Premier League clubs Birmingham City and Stoke City easily won their fifth-round ties 3-0 against League One opponents Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton.