Man U clip Southampton in FA Cup

LONDON (AP):

Manchester United required a second-half rally to edge third-tier side Southampton 2-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup yesterday and Salomon Kalou's late equaliser rescued defending champions Chelsea in a 1-1 draw at Everton.

United trailed 1-0 at half-time at St. Mary's Stadium, but the 11-time winners and Premier League leaders got goals from strikers Michael Owen and Javier Hernandez in the space of 10 minutes after the break.

"They played well and it's always tough in these matches in the FA Cup in the first half," Owen said. "But inevitably they tire and it's often the way that the better teams come good in the final 30 minutes."

Everton dominated for long spells against Chelsea and took the lead when striker Louis Saha headed home a corner by Leighton Baines in the 62nd.

Chelsea equalised through substitute Kalou, who finished off a flowing counterattack in the 75th with a shot that squirmed into the far corner to earn his team a replay.

Chelsea eye third straight title

Chelsea has won three of the last four FA Cups, including the last two. The team is looking to become the first to win the cup for three seasons straight since 1886.

Fifth-tier side Crawley Town missed two penalties but still became the first non-league club to qualify for the competition's fifth round since 1994 thanks to a 1-0 victory at 10-man Torquay, while Premier League teams Aston Villa and Birmingham also won.

Results

FA Cup fourth round: Everton 1 Chelsea 1; Swansea 1 Leyton Orient 2;

Aston Villa 3 Blackburn 1; Birmingham 3 Coventry 2; Bolton 0 Wigan 0;

Burnley 3 Burton Albion 1; Sheffield Wednesday 4 Hereford 1; Stevenage 1 Reading 2; Watford 0 Brighton 1; Torquay 0 Crawley Town 1; Southampton 1 Manchester United 2.

League Championship: Crystal Palace 0 Norwich 0; Hull 0 Queens Park Rangers 0.

League One: Brentford 1 Yeovil 2; Carlisle 2 Oldham 2; Plymouth 1 Bournemouth 2; Swindon 0 Exeter 0; Walsall 6 Bristol Rovers 1.