Aussies In The Thick Of Fa Cup Action

The romance of the FA Cup is well and truly alive and kicking and Australian players were at the heart of several thrilling encounters overnight.

The romance of the FA Cup is well and truly alive and kicking and Australian players were at the heart of several thrilling encounters overnight. The highlight match saw Championship play-off contenders Luton Town host Premier League high-flyers Liverpool, in what turned out to be the most spectacular match. The eight-goal thriller saw an upset on the cards, with Luton, featuring Chris Coyne at the back, leading 3-1 in the early stages of the second half. However Liverpool, with Qantas Socceroo Harry Kewell playing a full game, started their comeback and thanks to some superb goals, especially from Xavier Alonso with two-range gems, Liverpool eventually managed a 5-3 win. Middlesbrough, with Mark Schwarzer on the bench after asking for a transfer request earlier in the week, were held by non-league side Nuneaton Borough to a 1-1 draw. Fellow Aussie Brad Jones stepped in for Schwarzer and will now be hoping for an extended run in the side now that Schwarzer has made his intentions clear. Qantas Socceroo striker Mark Viduka played a full game. Milton Keynes almost pulled off a major upset and two Aussies were at the heart of a superb comeback against Championship side Southampton. Nick Rizzo and Gareth Edds (pictured in dark shirt) both scored late goals to draw the Dons level with Southampton, but a deflected goal in the dying minutes saw the Saints get home 4-3. Rizzo replaced fellow Aussie Trent McClenahan in the 64th minute, while Edds played a full game for the League One strugglers. Richard Garcia-s injury curse struck again, when he was replaced in the 52nd minute of Colchester-s upset 2-1 away win at Championship promotion contender Sheffield United. Garcia appeared to limp off with a hamstring injury. Qantas Socceroo Tim Cahill returned to his former club Millwall and had to settle for a 1-1 draw, as Everton scored late to level it. Lucas Neill saw game time, while Brett Emerton remained on the bench, as Blackburn Rovers recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over QPR; Stan Lazaridis played a full game in Birmingham City-s 0-0 draw with Torquay; Josip Skoko played 72 minutes and John Filan a full game, as Wigan Athletic were held to a 1-1 home draw by Leeds United and Jacob Burns played a full game for Barnsley in a 1-1 draw with Walsall. Pedge Bojic played 79 minutes for Northampton as they lost 4-1 away at Crystal Palace, which did not feature Qantas Socceroo Tony Popovic, and finally Paul Reid saw little game time as Brighton Hove Albion lost 1-0 at home to Coventry.