Shaka saves Owen penalty to upset Liverpool

LONDON: Michael Owen produced a horrendous penalty miss as Portsmouth upset Liverpool 1-0 yesterday to set up an FA Cup quarter-final against defending champions Arsenal. Former Gunners youngster Richard Hughes fired the only goal 19 minutes from the end at Fratton Park to pile more misery on Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier. Owen’s penalty miss came 11 minutes before the goal and the England striker was lucky to get the opportunity. There seemed nothing wrong with Matt Taylor’s ball-winning tackle on Milan Baros but the referee pointed to the spot. Happily for Pompey, Owen’s penalty kick was so weak and poorly aimed that goalkeeper Shaka Hislop, celebrating his 35th birthday, made an easy save.

The reward for Harry Redknapp’s team, which is also fighting a battle to avoid relegation back to Division One, is a home fixturee against Arsenal in the quarter-final. Defeat for Liverpool means that Houllier’s team, a massive 26 points behind Arsenal in the title race, now has just the UEFA Cup as its only chance of a title. In Premier League action yesterdayy, Stern John equalised in the fourth minute of injury time as Birmingham City hit back from two goals down to capture a 2-2 tie with neighbours Aston Villa.