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Barnet and Oldham are toast of FA Cup after shock wins

January 06, 2019 23:04 IST

IMAGE: Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic misses a penalty against Oldham Athletic. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Oldham Athletic and Barnet provided some old-fashioned FA Cup magic with shock victories against much more illustrious opponents but English champions Manchester City proved ruthless as they scored seven times in the third round on Sunday.

Fourth-tier Oldham came from a goal down to beat struggling Premier League Fulham 2-1 away at Craven Cottage with Callum Lang notching an 88th-minute winner shortly after the struggling top-flight hosts missed a penalty.

 

Barnet, who play in the fifth-tier National League, made light of an 85-place difference in the English football ladder to stun four-time former winners Sheffield United 1-0 away.

Former Tottenham Hotspur trainee Shaquile Coulthirst secured victory for caretaker manager Darren Currie's side with a 21st-minute penalty after being brought down on the box.

Victory was particularly sweet for Currie whose uncle Tony was an England international and was so revered as a player at Sheffield United that a stand at the club's Bramall Lane home is named in his honour.

"It feels fantastic, a proud moment for me, the boys and the club," former Barnet player Currie, who took over from John Still last month, told the BBC.

"United are trying to get into the Premier League so this is a fantastic day in our history."

Manchester City joined Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal in the fourth round as they thrashed second-tier Rotherham United 7-0.

City scored early through Raheem Sterling but had to wait until shortly before halftime to add to their total with Phil Foden scoring his first home goal for the club and Semi Ajayi turning Kyle Walker's cross into his own net.

The floodgates opened after the break with Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane on target.

Championship leaders Leeds United suffered a 2-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers, joining second-placed Norwich City who were beaten by Portsmouth on Saturday. Sheffield United are third in the Championship.

Source: REUTERS
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