FA Cup - Everton advances past Chelsea in penalties

Everton sent Chelsea out of the FA Cup with a penalty kick win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.  American keeper Tim Howard saved a crucial penalty for Everton in the shootout win over heavily favored Chelsea.  After the match finished 1-1 following extra time, the United States international brought Everton back into the shootout by batting away Nicolas Anelka's attempt on Chelsea's third kick. Ashley Cole then sent his kick over the crossbar, allowing Phil Neville to convert the winning spot kick for Everton and complete a 4-3 shootout victory.

Chelsea were poised to have won the match in overtime after Frank Lampard had put them ahead in the 103rd minute, but Leighton Baines scored a stunning free kick with a minute remaining to send the match to penalties. 

Everton avenged its defeat to Chelsea in the 2009 final and will play Reading in the fifth round on March 1. Chelsea was trying to become the first side to win three straight FA Cups since Blackburn achieved the feat between 1884-86.

Elsewhere in FA Cup play, Manchester United required a headed goal by defender Wes Brown to edge past non-league side Crawley 1-0 in a last-16 match.  Crawley plays in the fifth tier and is 93 places below United in the league ladder but took the 11-time champions all the way at Old Trafford. The visitors almost nicked a shock draw when substitute Richard Brodie headed against the crossbar in the final seconds.

United, which played a second-string team but brought on star striker Wayne Rooney for the second half, was hanging on in the last 10 minutes and had Brown to thank for his 28th minute glancing header from Darron Gibson's textbook cross. 

In the two other 5th round matches, Premier League sides Birmingham and Stoke eased to 3-0 home victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton, both in England's third tier. Arsenal travels to London minnow Leyton Orient for a last-16 match Sunday, when Manchester City hosts third-tier side Notts County in a 4th round replay.