Defending champion Liverpool was knocked out of the English FA Cup on Saturday when the Reds fell at home to Arsenal, 3-1, in the third round, the entry level for England’s top-tier clubs.
Czech Tomas Rosicky scored two first-half goals, and Frenchman Thierry Henry added a third goal on a breakaway to secure the big win at Anfield.
Struggling EPL clubs Charlton Athletic and Sheffield United both lost to League One (third level) opposition. Former MLS player Junior Agogo scored the first goal for Forest in its 2-0 win over Charlton. Thomas Butler scored two well-struck goals early in the second half for Swansea and was then brought down to produce the penalty that Leon Britton scored for the third in its 3-0 win at Sheffield United.
In Sunday’s action, Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer struck in stoppage time to earn EPL leader Manchester United a 2-1 home win over Aston Villa. Swede Henrik Larsson had scored earlier in his debut for United.
The dreams of the two remaining non-league clubs ended as Tamworth lost, 4-1, at home to Norwich City and Aldershot went down, 4-2, at League One’s Blackpool.
FRANCE. Runaway Ligue 1 leader Lyon needed a late goal on a free kick from Brazilian set-piece artist Juninho to win, 2-1, at Fourth Division Bayonne in the round of 64 of the French Cup. Fourth Division Calais, which reached the final of the 2000 French Cup, knocked out First Division Lorient, 2-0, thanks to two goals from forward Djezon Boutoille. Ligue 1’s Rennes also fell to minor-league opposition, conceding two goals in overtime to bow out, 3-1, against Third Division Romorantin.
SCOTLAND. Rangers’ troubles continued as the Glaswegian club fell to Dunfermline, 3-2, in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday. The game was Ranger’s first since Frenchman Paul Le Guen left by mutual consent, and Ian Durrant was appointed interim manager. Jim Hamilton and Stephen Simmons scored in the first half, while Phil McGuire headed a third goal in the first minute after the interval for Dunfermline, which is last in the Premier League. Rangers responded with two goals from striker Kris Boyd to spark a frenetic finish. Scotland coach Walter Smith is reportedly in line to return to Ibrox and take charge of Rangers, which is 17 points behind Premier League leader Celtic.
SPAIN. Sevilla held on to first place despite going down, 2-1, at Real Zaragoza on Saturday. Barcelona missed a chance to pull even with Sevilla when it was only able to earn a 1-1 draw at Getafe thanks to a goal on a free kick from midfielder Xavi. Sevilla leads Barcelona by two points and third-place Real Madrid by three, though Barca still has a game in hand. Real Madrid’s winless streak at Deportivo Coruna continued as it fell, 2-0, in one of its worst performances of the season. Real has not won at the Riazor since 1991.