Finally, a Chelsea loss.
This gives hope to the rest of the teams in England, and it might even improve Chelsea's long-term prospects.
Defending League Cup champion Chelsea went down to Charlton on Wednesday 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw through extra time. The loss after 13 games unbeaten this season means the Blues can focus on their main goals: winning the Champions League, the Premier League and the F.A. Cup.
"We know out of the four competitions, it is the one with less importance -- if you can say that," Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said. The loss also ended a 37-game unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge.
In Chelsea's first 13 games this season, the Blues had nine wins and a draw in the league, and two victories and a draw in the Champions League.
Technically, Chelsea is still undefeated in regulation time, which Mourinho pointed out. He also said the better team lost.
"I thought we were unlucky," Mourinho said. "I want to give my congratulations to them because they won. But we were the best team."
Chelsea played a strong team, but the Blues were far short of full-strength. Carlo Cudicini started in goal for No. 1 Petr Cech, and Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Didier Drogba started on the bench. Claude Makelele, Asier del Horno and William Gallas were given the night off.
Lampard, Cole and Drogba wound up playing less than an hour.
"Players who play for two hours are tired," Mourinho said, looking ahead to today's home match with Blackburn. The Blues lead the Premier League with 28 points -- nine head of Charlton, Tottenham and Wigan. Manchester United trails by 10, with Manchester City and Bolton 11 behind. Arsenal is 12 behind.
German defender Robert Huth probably cost Chelsea the game. After Terry gave Chelsea the lead, Darren Bent equalized off an error by Huth. In the penalty shootout, Huth was stopped by 'keeper Stephen Andersen to set the stage for Bryan Hughes to convert for the 5-4 edge.
Mourinho said Huth was eight for eight in penalties in practice.
"We trained for the game and in the last two days we have taken dozens of penalties," Mourinho said.
Charlton manager Alan Curbishley was lukewarm over the win.
"It was a great night for us and a great achievement," Curbishley said. "Who knows what will happen in the next round. It was a night for the fans, but I would swap it for a home win in the league."
In today's other games, it is: Wigan versus Fulham, Tottenham versus Arsenal, Birmingham versus Everton, Charlton versus Bolton, Liverpool versus West Ham, Sunderland versus Portsmouth, Middlesbrough versus Manchester United. On Sunday it's West Brom versus Newcastle with Aston Villa playing at Manchester City on Monday.
Today's other key game is the north London derby at Tottenham's White Hart Lane. Spurs haven't beaten Arsenal in the past 12 games. Their last victory was in 1999 in a 2-1 win in a league game at Tottenham. In that span, Arsenal has won eight and drawn four.
Last season, Arsenal won this fixture 5-4.
Tottenham has never had a better chance, with manager Martin Jol describing his team as ``getting better and better.''
While Arsenal leads its Champions League group, Tottenham is a club that sees itself bound for Europe. Spurs captain and defender Ledley King is teaming up with midfielders Jermaine Jenas and Edgar Davids, and Jermain Defoe is proving to be a threat up front.
"I feel we can still improve further," Jol said. "I don't think we've played to our potential, but you can't expect that yet. We have a lot of new faces and we are jelling together."
South Korean defender Lee Young-pyo agreed.
"The team is developing well and we seem to be improving every match," the South Korea international said. "I think we will be even stronger in the second half of the season."
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