Two-goal Carew makes plucky Palace pay penalty
ASTON VILLA (3) v/s CRYSTAL PALACE (1)
TWO late penalties from John Carew broke Crystal Palace hearts and kept Aston Villa on course for a second Wembley final.
The burly Norway striker won the penalties himself – both from fouls by Matthew Lawrence inside the last 10 minutes – and dusted himself off to book Villa’s place in the quarter-finals.
Gabriel Agbonlahor had put the Carling Cup finalists in front just before half-time when he glanced home a corner from Ashley Young. A Darren Ambrose penalty brought the financially stricken Championship outfit back into the game on 73 minutes, after a foul on Alan Lee.
But Carew had the final say, twice beating Julian Speroni from 12 yards to set up a last-eight clash at Reading.