体坛英语新闻：Holders Chelsea thrive, Man. Utd wither at FA Cup

LONDON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Holders Chelsea crushed Championship (second division) club Watford 5-0, while Manchester United lost to League One (third division) Leeds United 1-0 in humiliation on Sunday at the FA Cup third round fixture.

Chelsea started strong at Stamford Bridge routing Watford to 3-0 lead in 22 minutes. Daniel Sturridge, John Eustace (own goal) and Florent Malouda settled the outcome with early goals before Sturridge and Frank Lampard scored in the second half to ensure Chelsea to reach the fourth round.

Chelsea's Joe Cole (R) challenges Watford's John Eustace, earning Cole a yellow card, during their FA Cup soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London, Jan. 3, 2010.

    Manchester United suffered their most embarrassing FA Cup defeat for 26 years when Leeds United pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory at Old Trafford.

Manchester United's Gary Neville (R) challenges Leeds United's Richard Naylor during their FA Cup soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England Jan. 3, 2010

A 19th-minute goal from in-form striker Jermaine Beckford gave the Leeds United a stunning victory over Manchester United, who have won the Cup a record 11 times and never lost to lower division club since 1984.

    The goal came from a 50-meter ball from Johnny Howson which went over the champions' defense, allowing Beckford to control it and angle a shot wide of goalkeeper Tomas Kuszczak.

    It was the first time Alex Ferguson had suffered defeat in the third round, the stage at which the top clubs enter the FA Cup, since he became United manager in 1986.

    United's first lost to lower league opposition since 1984 also gave Leeds a memorable victory at a ground where they regularly used to duel with United for national supremacy before their slide down the leagues.

    Robert Snodgrass smashed a 25-meter free kick against the United bar two minutes later before goalkeeper Casper Ankergren parried a goal bound effort from Wayne Rooney in stoppage time.

    Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov and Rooney went close to equalizing for United, but Leeds denied the home side's rally to snap their first victory at Old Trafford since 1981.

    West Ham United and Arsenal were meeting in a London derby at Upton Park later on Sunday.