Bravura debut for Ba, but Newcastle out of FA Cup

LONDON (AFP) –

Chelsea‘s striker Demba Ba controls the ball during their English FA Cup third round football match against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on January 5, 2013. Ba scored twice as holders Chelsea roared back to beat Southampton 5-1.

Debutant Demba Ba scored twice as holders Chelsea roared back to beat Southampton 5-1 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, but Newcastle United were upset by second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion.

Beaten 1-0 by Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League on Wednesday, Chelsea fell behind in the 22nd minute at St Mary’s when Jay Rodriguez got in behind Gary Cahill before deftly beating goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.

Interim manager Rafael Benitez handed a first start to Ba since his move from Newcastle and the Senegal international crowned his debut with a 35th-minute equaliser when he helped a Juan Mata effort over the line from close range.

Victor Moses rifled home to put Chelsea ahead on the stroke of half-time, with Branislav Ivanovic heading home in the 52nd minute before Ba completed his brace and substitute Frank Lampard netted a late penalty.

English champions Manchester City enjoyed a similarly straightforward afternoon at home to second-tier Watford, winning 3-0 to book their place in round four.

Newcastle United’s Sammy Ameobi (L) and Brighton & Hove Albion’s David Lopez at clash for the ball at The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, southern England on January 5, 2013. Second-tier Brighton knocked Premier League Newcastle out of the FA Cup for the second year in succession.

Carlos Tevez opened the scoring in the 25th minute via a ferocious free-kick, with Gareth Barry heading home just prior to half-time before Marcos Lopez made it 3-0 in the 90th minute.

The third round had opened with an upset as Brighton beat Newcastle 2-0 to knock Alan Pardew’s side out of the competition for the second year in succession.

Andrea Orlandi and Will Hoskins scored in either half at the AMEX Stadium, while Newcastle, who fielded a weakened side, had captain Shola Ameobi sent off for two bookable offences.

“It was a team effort today,” said Brighton coach Gus Poyet.

“They realised the opportunity and we are lucky Newcastle couldn’t bring their best players, but we had to take advantage and we did that.”

The biggest upsets of the day saw Macclesfield Town and Luton Town of the fifth-tier Conference National overcome Championship sides Cardiff City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

Manchester City’s striker Mario Balotelli (L) clashes with Watford’s midfielder Geoffrey Mujangi Bia during their English FA Cup third round football match at The Etihad stadium in Manchester, north-west England on January 5, 2013. Manchester City won the game 3-0.

Meanwhile, Premier League sides Fulham, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Stoke City were all taken to replays by lower-league opponents.

Sunderland looked to be following their north-east rivals Newcastle out of the competition after falling 2-0 down at Championship representatives Bolton Wanderers.

South Korean winger Chung-yong Lee and Marvin Sordell put Bolton on the brink of round four, only for Connor Wickham and Craig Gardner to hit back for Martin O’Neill’s side.

Giorgios Karagounis’ stunning 80th-minute volley rescued a 1-1 draw for Fulham at home to Blackpool of the Championship, with Jordi Gomez levelling for Wigan in a 1-1 draw against third-tier Bournemouth.

Stoke City gave a first start to close-season signing Michael Owen but he was substituted without threatening to score in a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

Aston Villa fell behind at home to Ipswich Town but prevailed 2-1 through goals from Ipswich old boy Darren Bent and Andreas Weimann, while Reading also had to come from behind in a 3-1 win at Crawley Town.

Wigan Athletic’s forward Mauro Boselli (C) clashes with Bournemouth’s defender Tommy Elphick (R) and goalkeeper Shwan Jalal during the English FA Cup third round football match between Wigan Athletic and Bournemouth at The DW Stadium in Wigan, north-west England on January 5, 2013. The game ended with a 1-1 draw.

Tottenham Hotspur avoided a repeat of their 1987 cup final loss to Coventry City with a 3-0 success at White Hart Lane that saw Clint Dempsey claim a first-half brace.

In one of four all-Premier League encounters in the third round, Kieron Dyer’s injury-time effort earned QPR a 1-1 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Seventh-tier Hastings United saw their campaign ended at Championship club Middlesbrough, who prevailed 4-1 despite seeing on-loan Hastings goalkeeper Liam O’Brien save an 18th-minute penalty from Ishamel Miller.

Manchester United visit West Ham United later on Saturday, with Joe Cole set to make his second debut for West Ham after rejoining the club from Liverpool.