Manchester United Ease into Carling Cup Final

Manchester United beat Derby County 4-2 at Old Trafford (4-3 on aggregate) to book their place in the Carling Cup Final on March 1st. In all likelihood their opponents will be Tottenham Hotspur, who will be guaranteed a UEFA Cup place next season regardless of the cup final result.

United quickly overcame their one goal deficit from the first leg with three goals within 35 minutes from Nani, O’Shea and Tevez. The first goal came after 16 minutes when Nani struck a stunning 30-yarder drive into the top corner of Roy Carroll’s net.

O’Shea doubled the lead six minutes later when he waltzed into the Rams box and coolly slotted in. The game looked to be over before half time when Tevez grabbed a third heading home Rafael Da Silva’s dinked cross with ease.

Those goals seemed to have endured United’s path to Wembley, but Derby made it interesting in the last ten minutes when Jonny Evans brought down Paul Green in the area and Barnes converted the penalty.

United answered back when Tevez broke through on goal and was fouled by Rams keeper Carroll. Sub Cristiano Ronaldo tucked in the spot kick before Barnes added his second with a curling free-kick in injury time.