October 10 2001

The League Cup

Crystal Palace crashed out of the Worthington Cup to Sheffield Wednesday after losing on penalties after the game finished 2-2 after extra-time.

Keeper Kevin Pressman was the hero for Wednesday, saving three penalties in the shootout as his side won 3-1 on spot kicks.

Palace took the lead in the 11th minute through Simon Rodger. He swung a 30-yard free-kick on the right side of the box, which bounced over Pressman and into the back of the net.

The only real chance of the first half for the home side came in the 41st minute when Alan Quinn's shot was aved by Matt Clarke.

A string of corners resulted in the equaliser for the Owls through Ashley Westwood in the 65th minute.

Owen Morrison's corner was met by Trond Soltvedt, whose header hit the post before being stabbed home by Westwood.

The game went to extra-time and Aki Riihilahti made it 2-1 right at the end of the first period. Tommy Black whipped in a cross which was parried by Pressman and Riihilahti fired home from close range.

But Wednesday levelled again in the 111th minute through Tony Crane, when he headed home a Derek Geary cross.

Extra-time ended and it went to the dreaded penalty shootout.

Mullins scored for Palace, while Dean Austin, Tony Popovic and Jovan Kirovski missed for the Palace as the Owls won 3-1 on spot kicks and sailed into the fourth round.