Third-tier club Brighton defeated Manchester City in the Soccer Betting Carlin Cup on Wednesday to advance to the final 16. The loss is a major embarrassment for City, especially after they chose to rest Robinho for the match. Brighton won on penalties 5-3 after the teams tied 2-2 after extra time. Brighton goalkeeper Michel Kuipers saved City’s fourth penalty taken by Michael Ball and Matthew Richards scored the final penalty goal and City was eliminated. City midfielder Gelson Fernandes had scored in the 64th minute of regulation but Glenn Murray tied it in the 89th minute for Brighton. Brighton scored early in extra time as Joe Anyinsah scored but Stephen Ireland tied it for City in the 108th minute. A record home crowd of 8,729 was ecstatic after the win. Brighton now will face Derby in the third round.

In other Carling Cup action, Chelsea had no problems with Portsmouth, winning 4-0 as Frank Lampard scored twice. Portsmouth has given up 10 goals in their last two matches.” We had a makeshift midfield and we worked very hard but we gave away scandalous goals,” said manager Harry Redknapp, “The first one wasn’t a penalty. He left his foot in there and dived. After that the other goals were poor. “We haven’t been leaking goals all season but we have had two games now. Chelsea are a fantastic team, a different class, but the goals were poor.”

Soccer Betting Preview: Brighton Shocks Manchester City in Carling Cup

Inter Milan and Juventus are tied at the top of the Soccer Betting Serie A standings after they both picked up wins over the weekend. Inter Milan won 3-1 at Torino as Maicon and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored goals. “Inter was the stronger side today because it scored three goals and could have scored more,” coach Jose Mourinho said. “They scored a goal and were motivated at the end but our goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who was on vacation for 75 minutes, made some big saves, and that’s what president Massimo Moratti pays him for.” Juventus got a goal from Amauri as they defeated Cagliari 1-0. “Right now it’s us and Juve, but we’ll understand the standings better once the December break comes,” Mourinho said. “Milan (AC) will bounce back and so will Roma.” Inter and Juventus have seven points each at the top of Serie A followed by Lazio, Palermo, Catania and Atalanta with six points.

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Vincenzo Iaquinta set up Amauri’s goal for Juventus and the team overcame the loss of starting goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon who left at the half. His replacement, Alex Manninger, made a big save in the 90th minute on Alessandro Matri to save the win. “There could have been more goals for us if we had figured out how to take advantage of our chances, and for them with Matri, who nearly tied it,” Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri said. Goalkeeper Buffon said his injury was not bad. “I don’t think it’s anything serious,” he said.

Read more on Soccer Betting Preview: Inter Milan and Juventus Lead Serie A

Chelsea and Manchester United played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday and both teams came away from the game feeling differently. Chelsea is battered and bruised while Manchester United is encouraged. Chelsea will be without defender Ricardo Carvalho who is out for up to a month with a knee injury and Deco will miss two weeks because of a torn thigh muscle. Chelsea is already without midfielder Michael Essien who is out for months.

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Manchester United feels very encouraged after their draw at Chelsea. “That was definitely a point gained for us and was an answer to our critics,” said United’s Wayne Rooney. “As soon as we saw the fixture list we knew it was going to be a tough start to the season. We have just had three really hard games, possibly our toughest of all. Now we have got them out of the way, hopefully we can go on a run.”

Manchester United nearly ended Chelsea’s 85-match unbeaten home record but they were still pleased to come away with a draw. “Chelsea have a really good record here, so although we were in front for quite a long time and did well, a draw was a good result and probably quite fair given how the game went,” Rooney said. “I had a half-chance before they equalized which I might have done a bit better with. But it wasn’t to be and overall we did well.”

Read more on Soccer Betting Preview: Chelsea Injured, Manchester United Optimistic

Manchester United has Cristiano Ronaldo back and the rest of the world should sit up and take notice. The world’s best soccer player has missed the start of the Soccer Betting Premier League season but he returned in Champions League action against Villarreal on Wednesday.

It was expected that Ronaldo was going to be out until October but he has recovered nicely from ankle surgery and is a welcome sight for Manchester United. The defending champs of the Premier League are without Michael Carrick for weeks and new addition Dimitar Berbatov is doubtful this weekend. Ronaldo’s return definitely spices up this weekend’s game against Chelsea. “Cristiano is a massive player for us and it’s great to have him on our side,” said United’s Carlos Tevez. “It’s like having an extra player when he’s there because he’s such a danger to our opponents. It will be a big boost to have him back.”

Read more on Soccer News: Cristiano Ronaldo Returns

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has said his team will employ an attacking style when the team plays Panathinaikos on Tuesday in the group stage of the Soccer Betting Champions League. “My teams are always attacking teams,” Mourinho said, “Before I came to Italian football I told myself that no matter how long I stay I will never change my ideas as a coach. This is my idea about football. I will never field nine or 10 players in front of the goalkeeper just to get a result.”

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Mourinho left Chelsea a year ago for Milan but doesn’t feel he has to win the Champions League this season. “Mr Moratti (Inter president) has never told me to win the Champions League and I don’t feel under pressure to do so. We have our goals for this season and we have to play at a high level.” Morinho said, “I don’t accept being evaluated on being a coach on results only, although my teams do tend to win.” He is also not overconfident even though Milan is a favorite against Panathinaikos.”I won’t be modest and say we are not favorites, we are. We want to win the competition,” he said. “But I am a realist. I am not a crazy person. I have had 50 matches in this…

Soccer News: Mourinho Leads Inter Milan in Champions League

Defending champion Manchester United begins Champions League play on Wednesday as group stage play gets underway. Manchester United faces Villarreal on Wednesday and it is possible that Cristiano Ronaldo will make his return to the team for that match.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has missed the start of the Soccer Betting Premier League season as he recovers from ankle surgery. Ronaldo had 42 goals in all competitions last season and his return will be a welcome sight for United. The team lost to Liverpool in league play for the first time in seven years over the weekend without Ronaldo. “You have to recover, that’s the name of the game,” manager Alex Ferguson said, “It’s the Champions League and I think we are in a good group and I think we have a good chance of qualifying.”

Soccer News: Champions League Group Stage Begins

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien is expected to be out of action for a few months with a knee injury he suffered in Ghanas World Cup qualifier against Libya. The injury is a major blow to Chelsea who was expected to compete with Manchester United for the Soccer Betting Premier League title this season.

“He has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo an operation as soon as the majority of the swelling has subsided. We expect this to happen in a week’s time,” Chelsea said, “A return to full fitness is not expected for several months.”

In other Chelsea news, the team may end up regretting the decision not to sign Robinho. He signed with Manchester City and is vowing to make Chelsea pay for not signing him this summer. The two teams meet for the first time on Saturday. It was thought that Robinho would join Chelsea after deciding to leave Real Madrid but he couldnt come to terms with Chelsea on a deal and Manchester City ended up making a better offer.

Soccer News: Chelsea’s Michael Essien out for Months

World Cup champion Italy is in action on Saturday as they begin qualification for the Soccer Betting 2010 World Cup. Italy shouldn’t have any problems as they play Cyprus on Saturday and Georgia next Wednesday. Head coach Marcello Lippi is back to try and repeat the 2006 World Cup run. “Lippi has the same charisma and the same determination as two years ago,” Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro said. “We know that we have to qualify for the next tournament as defending world champions and we will have more responsibility.” Italy should also have Luca Toni back in the lineup on Saturday.

Georgia is a team that has had to change its schedule because of the problems back home with Russia invading. They will now play against Ireland in Germany. Captain Kakha Kaladze is not happy about playing a home game at neutral site. “I and many of my teammates continue to ask ourselves why this decision was taken,” Kaladze said, “There is no civil war in Georgia. We are not dangerous. What would happen if we played in the Tbilisi stadium? Nothing. It would only be a festival for thousands of people that are suffering.”

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Spain begins their World Cup qualifying at home against Bosnia-Herzegovina but will be without forward Fernando Torres who is injured. He will also miss the match against Armenia. He was injured last Sunday as he tore his hamstring while playing for Liverpool. Spain will also be without midfielder David Silva. Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque will be looking for a strong start from his squad as the Euro champs don’t want to run into any trouble in qualifying. “We want to give our best and change our mind-set because while the European Championship was very nice, it is already gone and we need to concentrate on the present,” Spain midfielder Marcos Senna said.

Read more on Soccer News: World Cup Qualifying on Saturday

Reports are that Kevin Keegan is out as manager of Newcastle United following a meeting with the club’s directors on Tuesday. Keegan was reportedly unhappy ownership was not willing to do much in the transfer market and wanted out. Last week James Milner was sold to Aston Villa even though Keegan wanted him to stay.

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The transfer issue really came to a head a few weeks ago when Dennis Wise took over as Executive Director at Newcastle. Since that time the team has been unable to sign any big names and Keegan was upset at the lack of action. Keegan was welcomed back at Newcastle with open arms in January after Sam Allardyce was fired. Keegan first coached Newcastle in 1992 and did quite well at the helm. He resigned in 1997 and went on to manage Fulham, England and Manchester City.

Read more on Premier League Soccer News: Kevin Keegan Out at Newcastle