Manchester City's [ Images ] new billionaire owners got a harsh taste of reality Wednesday as the team were bundled out of the English League Cup [ Images ] by League One (third division) Brighton & Hove Albion on penalties.
The delayed second-round tie ended 2-2 after extra time before Brighton won the shoot-out 5-3 at the ramshackle Withdean Stadium on the Sussex coast.
In third round action, Chelsea [ Images ] cruised past Portsmouth, romping to a 4-0 victory at Fratton Park as coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's [ Images ] unbeaten start continued in style.
High-flying Aston Villa [ Images ] were also on the end of a shock, losing 1-0 at home to Championship (second division) Queens Park Rangers. Holders Tottenham Hotspur [ Images ] enjoyed a morale-boosting 2-1 victory at managerless Newcastle United.
Blackburn Rovers beat Everton 1-0 in an all-Premier League clash at Ewood Park and Wigan Athletic won 4-1 at Ipswich Town to book their place in the fourth round.
Manchester City's new Abu Dhabi owners have vowed to make the club a force in English football and a 6-0 Premier League win over Portsmouth Sunday increased the wave of optimism sweeping the club's long-suffering fans.
A much-changed side, without British-record signing Robinho [ Images ], seemed on course for victory at Brighton but Glenn Murray's 89th-minute leveller sent the tie into extra time. Brighton went ahead through Joe Anyinsah before Stephen Ireland made it 2-2.
Frank Lampard [ Images ] was twice on target for Chelsea as Portsmouth suffered another thumping, following Sunday's hammering by City.
The England [ Images ] midfielder put Chelsea ahead from the penalty spot before Florent Malouda [ Images ] made it 2-0 at halftime. Lampard killed off Portsmouth just after the break and Salomon Kalou [ Images ] completed the rout.
New Russia [ Images ] striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored his first goal for Tottenham at a less than half-full St James' Park as the Premier League's two bottom sides produced a tame tie.
Damion Stewart provided the night's big surprise when he headed QPR's winner in the second half at Villa Park.
Manchester United [ Images ], Liverpool and Arsenal [ Images ] all won their third-round ties Tuesday.

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