Rooney sends United through, dashes City dream
Wayne Rooney's stoppage-time header sent Manchester United into the League Cup final with a pulsating 3-1 victory over Manchester City last night.
Trailing 2-1 after last week's bad-tempered clash at Eastlands, United turned the tie on its head with goals from Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, only for their former striker Carlos Tevez to level it for City.
But with the aggregate score 3-3 and extra time looming, Rooney's 21st goal of the season crushed City's bid for a long overdue trophy and sparked ecstatic celebrations inside a crackling Old Trafford.
Holders United will take on Aston Villa at Wembley on Feb. 28, a repeat of the 1994 League Cup final which Villa 3-1.
It was the seventh time manager Alex Ferguson has taken the club to the League Cup final, while City's long wait for a first trophy since the 1976 League Cup continues.
"We were deserved winners because we dominated the game," Rooney told Sky Sports. "It was nice to score but it was a team performance tonight."
City manager Roberto Mancini had hoped to lead his team to a first final since 1981, just over a month after taking over as manager from Mark Hughes.
"We played the same level as them," Mancini said. "We played well but I'm just sorry we lost. That's football. Now we have the FA Cup and the Premier League."
Fears of crowd disturbances after several flashpoints in the first leg did not materialise, apart from one incident when City's Craig Bellamy appeared to be struck by a missile, with a packed stadium absorbed by a classic Manchester derby.
FRENETIC OPENING
It took until the second half for the match to come to the boil after a frenetic opening period in which Tevez, scorer of two goals in the first leg and booed by United's fans, came closest to scoring with a diving header.
Mancini's side looked comfortable and had the first chance after the break when a rampaging Micah Richards forced a great save from Edwin van der Sar.
A yellow card for Tevez for a foul on Rafael stoked the atmosphere and United went in front after 52 minutes with a clinical finish by Scholes.
The goal seemed to suck the belief from City's players and they were on the ropes with 20 minutes to go when Carrick's precise finish after being teed up by Darren Fletcher put United ahead on aggregate.
Rooney should have buried City when he somehow missed the target from inside the six-yard area and that looked costly when Tevez pounced, cleverly flicking in Bellamy's cross with the outside of his right boot.
United would not be denied, however, and swarmed forward looking for a winner. Shay Given produced a superb save to deny Fletcher but could do nothing when Ryan Giggs curled in a magnificent cross which Rooney nodded in.
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Adrian Mercieca
Jan 28th 2010, 21:36
To all you rags/Stretford fans
You do have the edge over us right now - as you have had for the last 30+ years.
But we did have our own win over these two legs... WE'RE BACK!
We HAVE forced you to take us seriously for the first time in 30 years. Whiskey nose was compelled to field his best team to face us . Ferdinand was forced to deny guilt in a violent conduct case just to make sure he'd be available against us - that's how good we are getting and how worried you are becoming about us noisy neighbours.
We are back; finally after so many years in the wilderness, City are a legitimate part of the conversation whether it is Cup competitions or the race for the Champions League qualification.
We're back; and even you lofty rags, so called masters of English football, have had to stand up and take notice!
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 28th 2010, 21:19
@ A. Mercieca
Yes you are right. It useless now to argue (in a sporting manner always) more and more that we are on our way to Wembley. If Yesterday City showed the same persistence you demonstrated in your blogs they might done it yesterday. But as I told you lately with money you can't buy winning mentality.
Wish you good luck my friend and hope someday your team start to give you successive joy.
Adrian Mercieca
Jan 28th 2010, 20:41
@ Andrew Cumbo
Dear Andrew...
Quoting you: "This figure is available to buy when the market offer a reasonable to buy a valid player"
Erm, sorry to disappoint you matey but it's not! Being a Stretford fan you should know that to issue your junk bond this week, cost you 50 million to do! 50 out of those 80million have already gone down the drain in order to try to stem the gigantic costs you are incurring interest!
That's 63% of the money you made from the sale of Ronaldo lost as operating cost! Ouch!
Yes players come and go - and you have been great at staying at the top despite this. But this year it's different. You're nowhere close to where you were last year. For the first time, the difference from one year to the other is sharp. You have not replaced Ronaldo and Tevez - and it shows. Maybe because you don't have the money to do so. You are vulnerable - everyone can see that.
Anyway, why worry about me eh? You're on the way to Wembley no??!!
Or maybe coz you are realising that what I speak is so true?
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 28th 2010, 20:30
@ A. Mercieca
Players come and go: Van Nistelroy , Becham, Ronaldo, Teves and United keep Marching on. Tell me what Robinho achieved before leaving to Santos this evening? Ronaldo and Teves before leaving, awarded United with silverware and from Ronaldo £80 million in United pocket, to be spent when the market offer a reasonable player to buy. Don’t ever think that this money is going to make good for the dept as this is a clear statement from Fergie. Teves left and now we have Wayne Rooney who is sitting on top of the top scorer’s premier sheet with 19 goals, 7 more goals from Teves. With the payoff of these two players United are 2nd in the table with 50 points 12 more from your Citizens and 22 goals difference from your favourites. So without Ronaldo and Teves United are still doing well.
Don't look further ahead now. In April we wait and see as many things can happen until that day. City might change the coach again since they lost 2 games in the last 8 days. Unfortunately such changes happen very often when you have desperate teams struggling to win something.
Jonathan Polidano
Jan 28th 2010, 20:13
@Adrian Mercieca
Don't delude yourself about United's imminent "demise". We are only a few points behind what we were last year at this time, and even the few points we are trailing can be explained as due to massive injuries in defence. our club is not about any one player. Maybe losing Ronaldo was a blow, but in the long run it doesn't mean anything, especially since Valencia is prving to be a very good player (although admittedly not as good as Ronaldo). And Rooney is making sure Tevez isn't missed.
And don't be so sure about the effect of our debt...it MIGHT be serious in the future but it is not an unsolvable problem
Danny Apap
Jan 28th 2010, 19:45
Say what you want guys ! “ WE’R ON OUR WAY TO WEMBLEY! WE’R ON OUR WAY TO WEMBLEY! TARARA TARARA TARARA TARARA”
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 28th 2010, 19:34
@ A. Mercieca
Players come players go like Van Nistelroy , Becham, Ronaldo, Teves and United keep Marching on. Can you tell me what Robinho achieved before leaving to Santos this evening? Yes Ronaldo left with £80 million in United pockets, and don’t think this money is going to make good for the debt. This figure is available to buy when the market offer a reasonable to buy a valid player. Teves left and now we have Wayne Rooney who is sitting on top of the Top scorer premier sheet with 19 goals 7 more goals of same Teves. With the pay off of these two players United are 2nd in the table with 50 points 12 points more from your Citizens and 22 goal difference again from City. So without Ronaldo and Teves United are still doing well. My advice to you is not to look further ahead now, for April we wait and see. Many things can happen until that day. Who knows it might City change the coach again. Remember this is the second defeat for Mister Roberto Mancini in the last 8 days.
Adrian Mercieca
Jan 28th 2010, 17:38
@ Andrew Cumbo
Hi matey.
As sorry you did not understand what I said - it wasn't that complicated.
What I meant is that in the here-and-now scenario, we are close to being as strong as you are much more than we did in the past 20 years. The past is past mate - what matters is the present and future; your trophies will not pay your self-inflicted debt! Simple no?
As I freely admit, we're not there yet. You are ahead of us - but we're catching up. The three games between the two clubs this season already show this - each one went down to the wire -Unlike the strolls in the park you used to get in the not so distant past.
I know it might be painful for you to admit to yourself.... but you ARE a club in demise. You lost Ronaldo and Tevez last year; and whatever you might say about it, you have missed them both sorely. And as for the debts... they speak for themselves.
Until we meet again at Eastlands on April 17th.
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 28th 2010, 16:46
Dear A. Mercieca,
First of all yes you are still in the F.A. cup, but my friend you are far away from beating United in winning this cup. To put you in picture City are far away to win 33 major honours that Man-Und won since their foundation. This mean you are far away from winning 11 Premier League Titles, 11 FA cups, 3 League Cups, 13 FA Charity/ Community Shield, 3 European Cups, 1 Uefa Cup, 1 Uefa Super Cup, 1 Uefa Cup Winners Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup and 1 Fifa World Cup. I didn’t understand what you meant by saying City are getting closer to United. And to remind you the glory 90’s of United were not achieved with a shopping spree like City are trying to do. And by winning United means nothing unless you take an Honour that counts and make history. Don’t be like some others that they are in tremendous joy to win a double against United but never winning the title.
With loads of money you can buy famous players change coaches build grounds and much more, but you won’t buy the winning mentality that MAN-UTD have.
Adrian Mercieca
Jan 28th 2010, 12:55
@ Ruth MIZZI
A 4-3 aggregate win IS a scrape of a win.
And remember... this is the Carling Cup. A tournament that old whiskey nose himself used to use to train his youngsters - up until now that is!
Because his fielding of his strongest possible side against us ('a small club' in his own words) is factual testimony/evidence that you ARE getting worried about us. We are not the push-overs we used to be be - you were compelled to field your big guns against us.
That's very flattering for City :)
He called us noisy neighbours too - and quite rightly so.....
Prepare yourselves for the deafening sound of our glory in the coming years.
You guys shot yourselves in the foot when you got taken over by the Glaziers - they dumped all their debt on your club. A move that took you from the world's mightiest/strongest club in the world (both financially and yes admittedly, trophy wise) to a club with such a crippling debt.
The blue moon is rising!
Nathan Young
Jan 28th 2010, 12:41
@Michael Carachi
Manchester United as one of the richest clubs in the world have been buying success for years.They could always afford to buy players that other clubs could only dream about.
When other clubs can afford more expensive players he moans and whinges.
Ruth MIZZI
Jan 28th 2010, 12:39
@ A. MERCIECA
" ... Scrape of a win?!?" It was more of a dashing win, dashing the other team's hopes!! And what of the debts?? Do you honestly think that the other clubs don't have debts??? Dream on mate ... As Sir Fergie pointed out , "Money can't buy succes!!"
Adrian Mercieca
Jan 28th 2010, 12:35
@ Michael Carachi
Do you think that I might be interested in any tripe that whiskey nose might say? His comments are becoming all the more hilarious the more time goes by.
For example... I read that he thinks you should have scored 7 yesterday! Either he was watching another game or maybe he was thinking that Tevez still plays for him!!! ;-)
Whatever you might say mate... over 716 million in debt is not something you can shove under the carpet. It will bring you down.
Maybe you should organise a Stretford Utd Strina to collect something?
G. Buttigieg
Jan 28th 2010, 11:55
@ Adrian Mercieca
Looks like the neighbors are getting arrogant now that a sheik has waved the cheque book around. 2 things before you start to let off mate.
1. All the money in the world cannot buy class - Abramovich chelsea learned that lesson earlier.
2. We paid for your ground - And what a waste of councilt tax that was.
3. In the hope of overtaking United Try finding players that wants to come play for the club rather then for the cheque eg. Robinho paid 32 million in summer gone out on loan in January.
4. 34 years and thats a fact.
Michael Carachi
Jan 28th 2010, 11:06
@ A . Mercieca
Have a look at this article .... & u will get back to the reality of proper football , im sorry but ur one of those who think and dream that with money u can fill your club's EMPTY TROPHY CABINETS ! keep dreaming !
http://img.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=889972.html
Adrian Mercieca
Jan 28th 2010, 10:46
Dear Henry Fenech,
Just to remind you... we're still in the FA Cup (in which Stretford aren't!) and the season is still not over.
Admittedly, you are still the better team for now - but we're much closer to you than we've ever been for years. Gone are the days when you play City and win with a stroll. Keep an eye out on your rear-view mirror for us - but not for long: soon enough you will be looking at the team in front.
Enjoy this scrape of a win. They will get fewer and fewer as your debts mounts up.
henry fenech
Jan 28th 2010, 09:42
34 years and it goes on!
Mandy Camilleri
Jan 28th 2010, 08:28
WELL DONE REDS! keep marching on !