Manchester Utd claimed Carling Cup on penalties

Manchester United won the Carling Cup 4-1 on penalty kick-outs against Tottenham Hotspurs who attempted to defend the title after 2 goalless hours at Wembley Football Stadium.

With Jamie O'Hara's penalty-kick being saved by Ben Foster and David Bentley missed, and all 4 Man Utd takers converted and suceeded to score, Anderson's cool finish delivering the first part of a possible quadruple for them. Man Utd's delight proved there is still a place for the League Cup in an increasingly congested football calendar.

Ferguson made good on his promise to stick with the players who helped them to advance into the final, as striker Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson and goalkeeper Ben Foster all started. However, Cristiano Ronaldo, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Patrice Evra also featured from the outset, thus it could hardly be called as a reserve side.

Wayne Rooney would also started too if he had not been struck down by a virus. Tottenham's Jonathan Woodgate, who scored the winner in last year's final against Chelsea, also missed the match out of injuries.

Roman Pavyluchenko and Darren Bent both played up front, albeit only in the loosest sense of the word. The Russian, particularly, was quite woeful and Harry Redknapp substituted him just after the hour mark.

Man Utd began faster, and Ronaldo was keen to make his presence felt. The world player of the year smashed an early free-kick just over, before bringing a save from Heurelho Gomes in the Tottenham goal. Gibson flashed a superb 25-yard shot inches wide, while Scholes delivered some pinpoint passes that appeared too good to be true for their startled recipients, Welbeck and the perennially frustrating Nani, who did at least test Gomes early.

It seemed business as usual for them, but gradually Tottenham came back courtesy of the electric Aaron Lennon on the right wing. Evra was repeatedly beaten by the nifty footwork and rapid acceleration of Lennon. Every now and again, Lennon delivered his final ball and could only find the opponent's players. Captain Ferdinand made several last-ditch interceptions and, at the other end, saw an ambitious dipping volley drop just over the crossbar.

On the hour mark, Carlos Tevez nearly broke the deadlock with an instinctive back flick from a wayward Jonny Evans shot, but sent the ball just wide. Then controversy reigned as Ledley King appeared to foul Ronaldo in the Tottenham box, but he was instead booked for diving. If that was harsh on Man Utd, it perhaps offset Chris Foy's decision not to show John O'Shea another yellow card for a clumsy, late foul on Luka Modric. I agree whole-heartedly.

Then Lennon squandered Tottenham's best opportunity, collecting the ball on the right side of the box but seeing the impressive Foster push the ball to safety. From that point, extra time looked a certainty until Ronaldo - with 20 seconds of stoppage time left - jinked inside from the right and hit a savage left-foot shot. The whole Wembley stood still, but the ball came back off the inside of the right-hand post and Nani sent the rebound wide.

The extra half an hour produced few moments of quality, with both sides sapped of energy. Only Bent's shot at Foster troubled either keeper and penalties duly followed. Giggs, Tevez, Ronaldo and Anderson all converted for United, while Corluka was Tottenham's only successful taker.

For finer details of the match, click on the title of this post which will link you to the website. Happy surfing!