Hero O’Hara helps Macc create League Cup history
MACCLESFIELD TOWN pulled off a dramatic shock in the Carabao Cup as they knocked out League One Walsall on penalties.
The Silkmen, who play a division below the Saddlers, had squandered a 2-0 lead at the Banks’s Stadium and were on the verge of going out as they trailed 3-2 heading into injury time.
However, a last-gasp leveller from substitute Tyrone Marsh took the game into penalties.
Then Kieran O’Hara, who is on loan from United, became the hero as he saved three penalties to send the Silkmen through to the third round of the League Cup for the first time in their history with a 3-1 shoot-out victory.
The keeper had saved a penalty during the 90 minutes too.
Earlier, Jamie Grimes and Harry Smith had given Macclesfield a 2-0 lead, only for Kieron Morris, Andy Cook and Josh Gordon to give the home side the advantage, before Marsh’s late strike.
ROCHDALE, meanwhile, bowed out after a 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.
Dale went 2-0 down with goals from Marvin Johnson and Jordan Hugill.
However, they had hope when Ryan Delaney reduced the arrears with seven minutes left, but a youthful Middlesbrough side held on.
Premier League sides Huddersfield, Brighton and Cardiff were all knocked out, while Burton Albion beat Aston Villa 1-0. ILKAY Gundogan has revealed the sadness, anger and disappointment that came with being booed by Germany fans.
The City midfielder earned a place in Joachim Low’s World Cup squad but sparked a storm in his country – along with Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, also of Turkish descent – when he posed for a picture with Turkish president Recep Erdogan ahead of the tournament.
Both players were booed by their own fans as Germany took part in warm-up matches despite pleas from the coaching staff, including a game against Saudi Arabia in Leverkusen that had a big impact on Gundogan.
“Although there were no thoughts of resignation, there was doubt after the case with the photos, if it can ever be like said.
“If you are attacked by many, booed by your own fans and insulted by a German politician, then you worry.
“But I do not want to run away. I want to face the situation.
“That’s what I did back then in Leverkusen, when it was clear that there would be whistles against me.
“And that was extremely difficult. I will not forget it until the end of my life.
“After the game in the dressing room, I had to lock myself up in the toilet and breathe for 10 minutes.
“I was angry, disappointed and sad.
“But I know that you have to go through difficult moments in life. I wanted to face it then, and I want to do that in the future.”
The sorry saga led Ozil to declare he will not play for the national team, citing racism and disrespect and declaring: “I am German when we win, an immigrant when we lose.” it used to be,” he Gundogan will not deny that he has been hurt by a difficult summer, but is now determined to carry on representing Germany having missed out on previous successes with the team owing to injuries “At the time I wanted to comment on the topic and not let it sit on me. That’s why my idea was to seek an exchange with [Germany] president Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “For me it’s important, at the age of 27, not to throw anything because of a difficult phase that I personally went through. “In recent years, I have missed many beautiful moments with the national team due to injury. That’s why I feel the urge to be successful with the national team. “Unfortunately the World Cup was a big failure. But it’s not just about reparation for me: I’m still proud to play for Germany. “If I should be selected, then I see no reason not to move on. I also know what I owe the DFB in my career.” Ilkay Gundogan