Carling Cup Last Minute Excitement

There was plenty of excitement for sports betting fans in the Carling Cup yesterday and more of the same can be expected next week. Arsenal would have been the bookmakers favourites in the class against Newcastle and their 4-0 tag proved that the Gunners were well worth the money at St James‘ Park.

The Aston Villa match against Burnley you would have predicted was another easy call and with the Midlands outfit getting the bookmakers top odds. Ten men Villa left it late though to secure a 2-1 victory. Substitute Steward Downing came on to finish the affair in extra-time, sinking Burnley fans hearts with a 96 minute screaming shot into the net.

Pundits thought the West Ham, Stoke match would prove to be an evenly matched game, with the Hammers being given the slightly better betting odds. Stoke pride themselves on being a difficult cup team but their current away form hasn’t been that hot. West Ham however, made the mistake of letting the Potters take the lead early on in the match when five minutes in Kenwyne Jones found the net.

It was with only six minutes normal time left that West Ham managed to get things back all square and the 98th minute of extra-time saw Manuel de Costa put the Londoners into the lead. When Obinna found the net late into extra-time it made the 3-1 victory look a little hollow and the West Ham players must have felt glad to hear the final whistle.