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FOOTBALL EUROPE: Cardiff continue cup shocks

/noticias.info/ Cardiff City FC ensured that the weekend of FA Cup quarter-final upsets continued with an impressive 2-0 victory at Premier League side Middlesbrough FC.

Early goal
The second-tier club scored twice inside the opening 22 minutes at the Riverside Stadium to stun the home side, and leave Portsmouth FC as the only top-flight team left in the competition. Middlesbrough started slowly, and it was a fine piece of ingenuity from Peter Whittingham that gave the visitors the lead. Controlling a bouncing ball just inside the penalty area, Whittingham engineered himself some room before curling a right-footed finish beyond Mark Schwarzer after nine minutes.

Wembley trip
The same player then turned provider midway through the half when his free-kick from the left was headed low into the corner by a diving Roger Johnson. Cardiff outplayed their hosts for long periods and now take their place in the semi-final at Wembley, their first appearance at the national stadium since 1927. In the weekend's remaining quarter-final tie, an Ishmael Miller hat-trick inspired West Bromwich Albion FC to a 5-1 win at third-tier outfit Bristol Rovers FC.

Arsenal stutter
Following their UEFA Champions League heroics against AC Milan on Tuesday, Arsenal FC's momentum was checked by a 0-0 draw at relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic FC in the Premier League. The draw, the Gunners' third in as many league matches, extends their advantage over second-placed Manchester United FC to two points having played a game more.

Johnson joy
Everton FC are outside the UEFA Champions League qualifying places only on goal difference following their 1-0 success at Sunderland AFC, their fourth league victory in a row. Andrew Johnson 55th-minute strike in the north-east moves David Moyes' team on to 56 points, alongside their city rivals Liverpool FC.

Four-goal reverse
In the day's remaining fixture, West Ham United FC suffered their third successive 4-0 reverse, this time away at UEFA Cup contenders Tottenham Hotspur FC. Two first-half goals from Dimitar Berbatov (8 and 11) were added to by strikes from Gilberto and Darren Bent inside the last five minutes. notas_de_prensa_archivo