Ryan Nelsen's FA Cup soccer dream remains alive after the All Whites defender captained Blackburn Rovers to a 1-0 upset win over Arsenal in their fifth round replay at Ewood Park this morning (NZ time).
A stunning Benni McCarthy strike three minutes from time sealed Blackburn's path to
the quarterfinals following their goal-less draw at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
The replay boil-over has earned Blackburn a last-eight date at home against Stuart Pearce's premiership stragglers Manchester City on March 12 NZ time).
Middlesbrough host Manchester United in the first quarterfinal on March 11, while Tottenham Hotspur travel across London for a Stamford Bridge match with premiership titleholders Chelsea and Plymouth host Watford on the same day as the Blackburn-Manchester City match.
McCarthy's 87th minute thunderbolt following a long ball from fellow Blackburn substitute David Dunn completed a miserable week for Arsenal following the Londoners' heated 1-2 Carling Cup final loss to Chelsea.
Nelsen, who returned to skipper the side after being rested in Blackburn's 3-0 premiership win over visiting Portsmouth at the weekend, produced another workman-like performance in the heart of Rovers' defence.
The replay produced few opportunities at either end until South African international McCarthy, who had scored twice in Rovers' 5-0 pre-season win over the All Whites at Ewood Park, pounced.
Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel produced quality saves to twice deny Arsenal's Julio Baptista before a 18,882-strong crowd.
The win was sweet revenge for Blackburn who were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal in the semifinals of the 2004-05 FA Cup, a match Nelsen played in full at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
- NZPA
