Charlton Beat Champions Chelsea

Charlton have knocked holders Chelsea out of the Carling Cup after the game went to a penalty shoot out. The two teams who are currently topping the premiership finished with one goal each after normal but failed to score within extra time, so the game reached a huge climax when the Brian Hughes scored the final spot kick.

Chelsea controlled most of the first half with captain John Terry opening the scoring for the blues after an assist from Arjen Robben. Charlton tried to build up pressure with Dennis Rommedahl and Darren Ambrose lashing two powerful shots over the Chelsea crossbar. However, it was to nobody's surprise when Chelsea grabbed the lead with a Terry trademark header.

The lead only lasted four minutes due to a poor defensive mistake by Chelsea's Robert Huth. The Germany centre back failed to put enough power on his header back to Carlo Cudicini and Darren Bent was in the right place at the right time to capitalize on his mistake.

Chelsea went close to restoring the leader after the break with shots from Terry and Wright-Phillips going narrowly wide. Gudjohnsen and Lampard then followed up with two more strikes, only to see Addicks keeper, Stephan Anderson keep them out of the back of the net.

The game went to extra time and Chelsea continued to pile on the pressure. Carlton carried on defending deeper and deeper nevertheless, through all Chelsea's dominance, the team full of star players failed to find the goal.

It finally went to penalties, and Charlton showed no nerves by putting all their spot kicks away in fabulous style. For Chelsea however, one slip up now means that they will not be put into the draw for round four. Robert Huth was at the center of attention again when Anderson marvelously saved his penalty. One can only hope that the talented youngster can now pick himself up from this.

In tonight's other matches, Newcastle controlled most of their game against Grimsby at Blundell Park, but in all fairness to the league two side, they kept Newcastle at bay for most of the game with a strong defensive unit. Shearer grabbed his chance to put Newcastle through to the fourth round in the eightieth minute with an unstoppable left footed drive, driven low into the keepers left hand corner.

Man Utd brushed Barnet aside in an extrodinary tie that finished with the scoreline 4-1 to the Red Devils whilst Barnet had their keeper sent of in the second minute for handling outside the box. Miller, Richardson, Rossi, and Ebanks-Blake all scored to put Utd through with Sinclair scoring for Barnet.

Birmingham, Bolton, Leicester, and Middlesborough all won their ties respectively.