Tevez gives Man. City advantage in semi-final

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez scored twice against his former club Manchester United to give the home side a 2-1 victory in the first leg of an exciting League Cup semi-final at Eastlands yesterday.

Tevez, who moved to the blue half of Manchester after Alex Ferguson decided against making his loan move to United permanent in the summer, wiped out the visitors' early lead by smashing home a 42nd-minute penalty.

The Argentine forward then headed the second in the 65th when left unmarked in the six-yard box with only goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to beat.

United, the League Cup holders, went ahead after 17 minutes when City failed to deal with a cross from winger Antonio Valencia leaving Ryan Giggs with a simple tap-in after goalkeeper Shay Given had blocked a Wayne Rooney shot.

Tevez's first goal arrived just before half-time when Rafael Da Silva was adjudged to have pulled back Craig Bellamy in the area, although the initial offence clearly took place outside the box.

Tevez stepped up, and despite the best delaying tactics of Van der Sar and a cheeky word in his ear from Rooney, the Argentinian smashed his penalty high into the roof of the net.

The second goal was clearly a sweet moment for Tevez who cupped his ears in a gesture clearly directed at all associated with his former club.

Van der Sar then had to be alert to push away a Shaun Wright-Phillips drive, but it was all United after that with Nedum Onuoha clearing off the line from substitute Michael Owen and Given tipping over a clever effort from Rooney.

Valencia then missed a golden opportunity to equalise when he misjudged Patrice Evra's cross, while Given saved well to deny Rooney again.

The first semi-final between the two Manchester clubs since 1969 will be decided in the second leg at Old Trafford next Wednesday with the winners meeting Aston Villa or Blackburn Rovers at Wembley on February 28.

Villa are one match away from the final when they face Blackburn in the second leg tonight, having built a 1-0 lead at Ewood Park.

Today, 20.45: Semi-final, second leg - Aston Villa vs Blackburn.