LONDON (AFP) – Holders Chelsea needed
an 83rd-minute equaliser from Fernando
Torres to rescue a 2-2 draw at third-tier
Brentford on Sunday as they narrowly
avoided a humiliating exit in the fourth
round of the FA Cup.
A penalty from Brentford starlet Harry
Forrester looked destined to send the
European champions out of the
competition, only for Torres to curl
home a fine goal to deny his side’s west
London neighbours a memorable upset.
John Terry made his first Chelsea start
since November after injury but his first
involvement saw Ross Turnbull
penalised for picking up his misplaced
back-pass, with Forrester shooting over
from the ensuing free-kick.
Emboldened, the League One side
stepped up their assault on the Chelsea
goal and Adam Forshaw flashed a shot a
fraction wide before testing Turnbull
with a low effort from outside the box.
The underdogs had the wind in their
sails and three minutes before half-time
they scored, with Marcello Trotta
arrowing home after Turnbull parried a
25-yard curler from Forrester.
Chelsea introduced Juan Mata at half-
time and within 10 minutes the visitors
were level, as Oscar brought down a
high ball and skipped past a couple of
challenges before arcing a lovely shot
into the top-left corner.
Chelsea appeared to have taken control,
but in the 72nd minute Turnbull sent
Tom Adeyemi sprawling in the visitors’
box and Forrester, 22, swept the spot-
kick into the bottom-left corner.
With home fans lighting flares in the
Griffin Park stands, an unforgettable
victory looked to be on the cards, until
Torres swept home his late equaliser
from the edge of the box to take the tie
to a replay.
Two other Premier League sides face
awkward away fixtures later on Sunday,
with Tottenham Hotspur travelling to
Championship side Leeds United and
Liverpool visiting League One Oldham
Athletic.
There were two major shocks on
Saturday, which followed Aston Villa’s
elimination by Millwall on Friday.
Queens Park Rangers were humbled 4-2
by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons, while
Luton Town of the Conference National
won 1-0 at Norwich City to become the
first non-league side to eliminate top-
flight opponents since 1989.
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an 83rd-minute equaliser from Fernando
Torres to rescue a 2-2 draw at third-tier
Brentford on Sunday as they narrowly
avoided a humiliating exit in the fourth
round of the FA Cup.
A penalty from Brentford starlet Harry
Forrester looked destined to send the
European champions out of the
competition, only for Torres to curl
home a fine goal to deny his side’s west
London neighbours a memorable upset.
John Terry made his first Chelsea start
since November after injury but his first
involvement saw Ross Turnbull
penalised for picking up his misplaced
back-pass, with Forrester shooting over
from the ensuing free-kick.
Emboldened, the League One side
stepped up their assault on the Chelsea
goal and Adam Forshaw flashed a shot a
fraction wide before testing Turnbull
with a low effort from outside the box.
The underdogs had the wind in their
sails and three minutes before half-time
they scored, with Marcello Trotta
arrowing home after Turnbull parried a
25-yard curler from Forrester.
Chelsea introduced Juan Mata at half-
time and within 10 minutes the visitors
were level, as Oscar brought down a
high ball and skipped past a couple of
challenges before arcing a lovely shot
into the top-left corner.
Chelsea appeared to have taken control,
but in the 72nd minute Turnbull sent
Tom Adeyemi sprawling in the visitors’
box and Forrester, 22, swept the spot-
kick into the bottom-left corner.
With home fans lighting flares in the
Griffin Park stands, an unforgettable
victory looked to be on the cards, until
Torres swept home his late equaliser
from the edge of the box to take the tie
to a replay.
Two other Premier League sides face
awkward away fixtures later on Sunday,
with Tottenham Hotspur travelling to
Championship side Leeds United and
Liverpool visiting League One Oldham
Athletic.
There were two major shocks on
Saturday, which followed Aston Villa’s
elimination by Millwall on Friday.
Queens Park Rangers were humbled 4-2
by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons, while
Luton Town of the Conference National
won 1-0 at Norwich City to become the
first non-league side to eliminate top-
flight opponents since 1989.
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