2Slick

Grzegorz Rasiak netted a goal in either half as Southampton saw off plucky League Two strugglers Torquay 2-0 in their FA Cup third-round tie.


THIRD ROUND
Fri., Jan. 5, 2007
Bristol R. 1-0 Hereford Recap
Stoke City 2-0 Millwall Recap
Sat., Jan. 6, 2007
Blackpool 4-2 Aldershot Recap
Barnet vs. Colchester P'poned
Sheff. Utd 0-3 Swansea Recap
Reading vs. Burnley P'poned
Portsmouth 2-1 Wigan Recap
Doncaster 0-4 Bolton Recap
West Ham 3-0 Brighton Recap
Leicester 2-2 Fulham Recap
Derby 3-1 Wrexham Recap
Wolves 2-2 Oldham Recap
Chester 0-0 Ipswich Recap
Tamworth 1-4 Norwich Recap
Nott. Forest 2-0 Charlton Recap
Preston 1-0 Sunderland Recap
Liverpool 1-3 Arsenal* Recap
Watford 4-1 Stockport Recap
Palace 2-1 Swindon Recap
Bristol City 3-3 Coventry Recap
P'borough 1-1 Plymouth Recap
QPR 2-2 Luton Recap
Southend 1-1 Barnsley Recap
West Brom 3-1 Leeds Recap
Hull 1-1 Middlesbrough Recap
B'mingham 2-2 Newcastle Recap
Torquay 0-2 S'hampton Recap
Chelsea 6-1 Macclesfield Recap
Sun., Jan. 7, 2007
Man Utd vs. Aston Villa*
Sheff. Wed. vs. Man City
Everton vs. Blackburn Preview
Cardiff vs. Tottenham*
*Airs on FSC Schedule
Front | All Rounds

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Rasiak opened the scoring two minutes before half-time after a frustrating opening period for the visitors, in which they had found young Gulls keeper Martin Horsell in inspired form.

The 20-year-old, making just his fourth senior appearance, made fine saves to deny David McGoldrick, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Jhon Viafara.

The home side, without a league win in 17 games, gave their all in the second period, but were made to pay for failing to create any clear-cut chances when Rasiak headed a second 18 minutes from time.

George Burley resisted the temptation to rest any of his stars, although full-back Gareth Bale was omitted from the side, with the official line being that he has a tight hamstring.

Claus Lundekvam, Alexander Ostlund and Rudi Skacel were also unavailable, but Burley's problems were minuscule compared to opposite number Lubos Kubik, who was unable to name a full substitutes' bench for the fourth game in a row.

And the afternoon nearly got off to a nightmare start for the hosts when Viafara played in McGoldrick inside the first minute, but Horsell denied him with a superb save.

Murray then fired wide for the home side, before Viafara miscued his effort from just inside the area in a frenetic start.

Horsell had to be at his best again to deny Wright-Phillips and he had to be alert again to keep out Viafara's 20-yard effort.

Murray deflected another Viafara effort wide and Rasiak headed wide from a Baird cross, but the breakthrough finally came when Horsell tried to prevent Steve Woods' clearance from going out for a corner but he lost the ball and Rasiak rammed home from a narrow angle.

The second half was a much different contest as the Gulls took the game to their opponents, with Chris McPhee forcing one-time Torquay loan player Kelvin Davis into a smart save.

Lee Thorpe fired wide from 20 yards after he had been played through by Lee Mansell before the Saints registered two quickfire efforts - McGoldrick denied by Horsell from 30 yards and Wright-Phillips curling over from the edge of the area.

But it was the home side who had the initiative and Thorpe's effort drew another save out of Davis, before debutant Nick McKoy - on loan from Cardiff - fired wide from 25 yards.

And the chances kept on coming as Woods headed Murray's corner on to the roof of the net, while at the other end McGoldrick fired over after bursting into the box.

But the Gulls' cup dream was over 18 minutes from time when Murray cleared Mario Licka's corner back out to the Czech substitute and his second cross was superbly headed home by Rasiak for his 18th goal of the season - and his 14th away from St Mary's.

Undeterred, the home side continued to press and Jamal Easter had a shot blocked, Thorpe shot wide and Woods lashed over after Stevland Angus' goalbound header had been blocked, and Murray fired over from 30 yards out.

However the Saints could have added a third, with David Prutton firing wide, Horsell denying Licka and Pedro Pele heading wide as Burley's men progressed to the fourth round for the third year running.

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