Eastwood strike humbles holders
Lifelong Manchester United fan Freddy Eastwood ruined Sir Alex Ferguson's 20th anniversary celebrations by sending the Carling Cup holders tumbling out of this season's competition 1-0.
The Southend striker, who twice attended Sir Bobby Charlton's famed soccer schools as a youngster, struck the decisive blow with a superb free-kick midway through the first half.
The goal proved enough to earn the Shrimpers one of the most famous nights in their entire history against a Red Devils line-up containing 10 full internationals, including Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
But the real hero of the night was Southend keeper Darryl Flahavan, who produced a hat-trick of stupendous saves, all of which denied Ronaldo who, just like Rooney, tried his heart out but could not prevent Southend recording a shock win that took them into the last eight for the first time in their history.
It was a serious jolt for Ferguson, who only 24 hours ago celebrated an amazing two decades at the Old Trafford helm.
Throughout the past week, Ferguson has attempted to deflect all the praise and plaudits for his amazing achievements at Old Trafford by insisting he was more concerned with the future than the past.
As such, and given they had come so close to humiliation at Crewe in the previous round, it was no real surprise to see Rooney and Ronaldo in the Scot's starting line-up as the Red Devils looked to book a quarter-final place for the third time in four years.
Although precisely 43 league places separated the Premiership leaders from the Championship basement boys, a strong start from the hosts could also have been anticipated. Ferguson though presumably did not expect it to last the entire length of the first half.
Jamal Campbell-Ryce was the initial worry, darting down the right flank with menace while not quite managing to find a clinical final ball.
But it was Eastwood who soon took centre stage, showing the talent which persuaded Derby to bid £1million for his services in the summer. When David Jones chopped Campbell-Ryce down 25 yards out, it was Eastwood who sent the free-kick searing into the top corner beyond the grasp of Tomasz Kuszczak.
