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LONDON - A last-minute own goal by Joleon Lescott handed holders Chelsea a 2-1 win over Everton in the first leg of their League Cup soccer semifinal last night (NZT).
Chelsea went ahead in the 26th minute when France winger Florent Malouda, playing his first game after two months out injured, threaded the ball to Shaun Wright-Phillips and the winger curled it into the net off the post.
But Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, who leaves this week to join Nigeria's squad in Ghana for the African Nations Cup, was sent off in the 56th minute for a studs-up tackle on Phil Neville.
Everton equalised eight minutes later through Aiyegbeni Yakubu before Lescott headed into his own net in the second minute of injury time.
The second leg at Everton is on January 23. North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham play the first leg of the other semifinal tonight (NZT), with the final at Wembley on February 24.
- REUTERS
