Red Devils kicked out by second division side

Manchester United were eliminated from the English League Cup on Tuesday 8212; beaten 1-0 by Southend, a club ranked more than 40 places below the defending champions.

Manchester United were eliminated from the English League Cup on Tuesday 8212; beaten 1-0 by Southend, a club ranked more than 40 places below the defending champions.

United lost the fourth-round match at Southend8217;s 12,200-capacity Roots Hall stadium despite fielding England striker Wayne Rooney and Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting lineup.

8220;This is massive,8221; Southend manager Steve Tilson said. 8220;It does not come any bigger than this.8221;

The match was played a day after Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson marked 20 years in charge of the Red Devils. The League Cup was the only trophy won by United last season.

Southend striker Freddy Eastwood scored the winner with a curling free kick past United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak in the 27th minute. David Jones, who conceded the free kick, nearly equalised for United a minute later, but his shot hit the post.

Ferguson used a near full-strength lineup for the game 8212; fielding 10 internationals 8212; after a second-string side needed extra time to beat Crewe in the third round of English soccer8217;s second-tier club knockout competition.

Southend goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan helped secure the victory with a string of saves to deny Rooney and Ronaldo. 8220;I knew it was going to be a busy night for me,8221; Flahavan said.

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8220;It is a tremendous achievement. When we saw the side they put out we knew we were in for a game.8221;

Southend is in last place in the 24-team Football League Championship, two full divisions below United, which leads the Premier League.

Premier League clubs Charlton and Newcastle also advanced to the quarter finals, needing penalty kicks, while Wycombe beat Notts County 1-0 off a 49th-minute goal from Jermaine Easter. Charlton eliminated Chesterfield 4-3 in the penalty shootout. The League One side already had beaten Premier League sides West Ham and Manchester City.

Colin Larkin put Chesterfield ahead after three minutes with a half volley before Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink leveled in the 40th minute with a low left-footed shot.

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Caleb Folan headed Chesterfield ahead in the 47th, but Darren Bent equalised in the 73rd to send the game to extra time. Hasselbaink scored his second goal in the 93rd, but Wayne Allison leveled for Chesterfield with five minutes left of extra time. In the shootout, Charlton goalkeeper Scott Carson saved Mark Allott8217;s shot, allowing Hermann Hreidarsson to convert the winning penalty.

Newcastle beat Watford 5-4 on penalties. The Magpies scored in the third minute when Antoine Sibierski headed in a free kick from Emre Belozoglu. Watford equalised in the 69th through Damien Francis to send the game to extra time.

Dan Shittu put Watford ahead in the 108th minute, with Scott Parker equalising for Newcastle eight minutes later, sending the game to penalty kicks. Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper thwarted Charlton8217;s Jordan Stewart to secure the Magpies win.

8211;KRYSTYNA RUDZKI