English League Cup holders Liverpool were knocked out of the competition in the third round tonight when first division Grimsby pulled off a shock 2-1 win after extra time at Anfield. The premier league side dominated the match, only an inspired performance by Grimsby goalkeeper Danny Coyne keeping the score to 0-0 after 90 minutes.
Gary McAllister's penalty early in extra time looked to have won the game for Liverpool, but defender Marlon Broomes scrambled an equaliser seven minutes from time. Just when a penalty shoot-out was looming, Phil Jevons, signed from Everton at the start of the season, somehow squeezed a 25-metre shot past debutant keeper Chris Kirkland to give Grimsby a memorable victory.
Elsewhere, Robbie Keane scored a hat-trick as Leeds United thumped Leicester City 6-0 away tonight to reach the last 16 of the English League Cup. Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town, Southampton and Charlton Athletic also progressed with away wins at lower division opposition.
While several top-sides rest their leading players for this competition, David O'Leary's decision to take a full-strength team to Filbert Street paid dividends. Irish international Keane was on target twice in the first 16 minutes and a goal from Eirik Bakke put Leeds 3-0 ahead at the break. Keane grabbed his third in the 53rd minute before being replaced by Alan Smith, Mark Viduka ended his eight-game goal drought with a lovely 25-metre curler and Harry Kewell chipped in with the sixth.
Chelsea strolled to a 2-0 win over Coventry. Eidur Gudjohnsen cut through some poor defending to shoot the Londoners ahead after 56 minutes and Mikael Forssell headed the second four minutes later. Tranmere Rovers were already behind to a Teddy Sheringham penalty when Micky Mellon was sent off in the 33rd minute, and Tottenham punished the 2000 runners-up with further goals by Darren Anderton, Gustavo Poyet and Serhiy Rebrov.
A James Beattie spot-kick after nine minutes and a late header by Marian Pahars were enough for Southampton to claim their fourth successive away win, 2-0 at Gillingham. Ipswich had to battle all the way at Crewe but eventually emerged 3-2 winners thanks to two goals for Martijn Reuser and one for Alun Armstrong.
Charlton edged West Bromwich Albion 1-0 thanks to a Jason Euell penalty, while Newcastle needed a late Craig Bellamy goal to secure a 1-0 success at Barnsley. In an all-first division clash, Watford beat Bradford City 4-1.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
