Carabao Cup: Arsenal Cruises To Semis, Liverpool Advances
Brazilian Gabriel Jesus bagged a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in the Carabao Cup to reach the semifinals, while holders Liverpool booked its place in the semis with a 2-1 victory against Southampton.
Crystal Palace opened the scoring in the fourth minute at the Emirates Stadium, when Jean-Philippe Mateta nudged aside Gunners defender Jakub Kiwior to latch onto a long ball and side-foot home.
But Arsenal thoroughly dominated the second half and Jesus equalised in the 54th minute when Martin Odegaard sent a beautiful through ball into the box and the Brazilian chipped the ball over Dean Henderson.
Jesus, who had scored just once this season before Wednesday, netted his second in the 73rd minute when Substitute Bukayo Saka slipped the ball through for him to hammer home.
The Brazilian then completed his hat-trick eight minutes later. Gabriel Jesus ran onto a ball from Odegaard behind Palace’s back line before firing past Henderson.
Three goals for the Brazilian in this thrilling encounter to boost his confidence heading into their Premier League encounter this weekend away from home against the same opponents, Crystal Palace .
Late in the game, former Arsenal strker Eddie Nketiah pulled one back for Palace late on when he leapt high to head home past David Raya as the match ended 3-2.
A five goal thriller sees @Arsenal prevail!#EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/fCkhWQgjuC
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) December 18, 2024
“So pleased for (Jesus). It’s been a long period for him without goals,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told reporters.
To score the three types of goals and the many actions that he was involved in, it’s a great thing for the team that we can rely on a player with such quality.”
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
🔴 @LFC through to the Semi-Finals!#EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/ddzmNNAgnv
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) December 18, 2024
The game was a tale of teams at opposite ends of the Premier League table, with Liverpool at the summit and Southampton — who sacked manager Russell Martin following Sunday’s 5-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur — in last place with just one win.
Forward Darwin Nunez, who had been goaded by Saints fans earlier in the game for a wild miss, got on the scoresheet in the 24th minute, pouncing after a mis-kick by centre back Jan Bednarek and a slip by keeper Alex McCarthy.
Nunez put his finger to his lips in a gesture to the crowd after finishing past McCarthy.
Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott doubled the Reds’ lead eight minutes later when he unleashed a low, hard shot from Cody Gakpo’s pass.
However, Cameron Archer pulled one back for the home side in the 59th minute with a curling shot from just inside the box as the match finished 2-1 in favour of Liverpool.
“We have to defend the trophy because the club won it last season, so we want to compete in every league and this is one of them, so we’re happy that we reached the semi-final,” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who watched the game from the press box while serving a touchline ban.
The last semi-final place is up for grabs on Thursday when Tottenham Hotspur hosts Manchester United.
Wednesday’s Carabao Cup results
Arsenal 3-2 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 3-1 Brentford
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool.
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