Arsenal and Tottenham both survived red cards to reach the semi-finals of the English League Cup on Tuesday, the Gunners winning 3-2 at Blackburn and Spurs prevailing 2-0 at Manchester City.
Arsene Wenger's second-choice Gunners had to play 30 minutes of extra time with 10 men after Brazilian midfielder Denilson was sent off in the 90th minute at Ewood Park.
But Eduardo da Silva scored his second goal of the game to make sure that the Gunners reached the semi-finals for the fourth time in five years.
PHOTO: AFP
Tottenham had Didier Zokora sent off in the 20th minute at Rovers.
But goals by Jermain Defoe in the fifth minute and Steed Malbranque in the 82nd ended City's streak of 10 straight victories at home in league and cup play under Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Everton had already made it to the semi-finals after winning 2-1 at West Ham last week.
PHOTO: AP
Chelsea was to host Liverpool yesterday.
Wenger again employed his young Gunners reserves for English soccer's third-tier competition against a near full-strength Rovers lineup at Ewood Park.
Arsenal led in the sixth minute when Nicklas Bendtner was put clear down the right and his cross was converted on the half-volley by Abou Diaby.
PHOTO: AP
After Bendtner hit the crossbar, Arsenal extended its lead in the 29th with Denilson sent a through ball behind the Rovers defense to Eduardo, who beat goalkeeper Brad Friedel with an angled left-footed shot.
Blackburn replied three minutes before halftime when former Arsenal winger David Bentley combined with Matt Derbyshire, who sent in a low cross for Roque Santa Cruz.
The Paraguayan, who scored all three in Rovers' 5-3 loss at Wigan on Saturday, added another in the 60th minute when he headed home a free kick by Bentley.
Denilson was dismissed in the final minute of regulation following a multiplayer scuffle in front of the benches, forcing the Gunners to play extra time down a man.
Eduardo struck again for the Gunners in the 104th, converting after Alex Song broke out from defense and fed the Brazilian-born Croat striker.
Christopher Samba almost forced penalties but hit the post in the final seconds of extra time.
Spurs went ahead at Manchester City when Dimitar Berbatov sent winger Aaron Lennon down the right, and his cross was swept home by Defoe.
Tottenham were reduced to 10 men, however, when referee Steve Bennett sent off Zokora for what he harshly ruled was a lunge at City's Brazilian midfielder Elano.
To Defoe's surprise, coach Juande Ramos replaced him with midfielder Teemu Tainio, leaving Berbatov to carry the attack by himself.
Tottenham added the second on a counterattack in the 82nd minute when Lee Young-pyo headed a City cross out of his own area, Malbranque raced clear of the City defense and rounded the goalkeeper to score.
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