Blackburn into quarter-finals
Blackburn beat Portsmouth for the second time this season
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Universal Music, out October 30th, 2007. |  |
Wednesday, 31, Oct 2007 11:18
Blackburn Rovers progressed into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup after a 2-1 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Rovers took the lead when South African team-mates Aaron Mokoena and Benni McCarthy combined to breach the home side's defence.
Mokoena found the striker with a sublime through-ball and McCarthy calmly slotted the ball past David James in the Pompey goal from short range.
But despair soon struck for Mokoena as he was carried off with a painful knee injury which could sideline him for an extended period.
With his side behind at the break Harry Redknapp swapped Matt Taylor and David Nugent for Noe Pamarot and Papa Bouba Diop.
It nearly paid dividends but Nugent could not convert a simple chance soon after his introduction.
The England striker headed wide from a merely two-yards out with the goal at his mercy.
His miss proved to be costly as Morton Gamst-Pedersen made sure of Rovers' spot in the quarter-finals when he doubled their lead with 15 minutes to go.
Although Nwankwo Kanu pulled a goal back in the final minute it was too late for Pompey.
Elsewhere in the competition Arsenal cruised past Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, defeating their Championship opponents 3-0.
Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva scored at the start of each half, while Brazilian midfielder Denilson added the third from long range with 20 minutes to go.
Everton also qualified for the quarter-finals after overcoming Luton Town 1-0 after extra-time.
Tim Cahill scored the winner for the Toffees in a well contested affair at Kenilworth Road.