Goalkeeper Brad Guzan saved three penalties in a shoot win over Sunderland to seal Villa’s safe passage into the Carling Cup last eight.

Guzan had also saved his side in normal time with yet another save from the spot, gathering Kenwyne Jones’ effort after Carlos Cuellar was adjudged to have handled Andy Reid’s cross on 83 minutes.

But, after 120 minutes could not separate the two teams at the Stadium of Light, it was in the ensuing shoot-out that Villa’s hero really made his mark.

The American understudy – playing in place of his rested countryman and first choice Brad Friedel – saved from Reid, Lorik Cana and Jordan Henderson with only sub Steed Malbranque breaking the goalkeeper’s resistance.

Villa were the more clinical from their penalties, with John Carew and James Collins converting and – despite a Gabby Agbonlahor miss – up stepped Ashley Young to fire Martin O’Neill’s men into the quarter-finals.