Carling Cup Quater-Final: Manchester United 5 - Blackburn 3

Wednesday, 03 December 08, 05:31 PM · Comments(0)

Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Carling Cup
Old Trafford, Wed 3 December

Manchester United 5
Tevez 36, 51 (penalty), 54, 90, Nani 40.

Blackburn 3
McCarthy 48, 90, Derbyshire 84.

Don't let the score fool you, Manchester United put on a wonderful display tonight at Old Trafford! Sir Alex elected to start his young guns Rodrigo Possebon, Rafael, Johnny Evans, and Darron Gibson, who he stated had helped United get this far into the competition. Also starting was third string keeper, Ben Foster, who put on a decent display in a start that was long coming.

United was on the attack from the start and had Blackburn on their heels. A couple chances wasted including Gibson's header cleared off the line, before Carlos Tevez scored his first of four goals on a far post header. It did however seem as if it was an own goal, but Tevez claimed it.

Shortly after Nani scored a cracker to put United in front by two. Early in the second half, United gave up a goal after a slip-up by Gary Neville who had just come back from injury. However, it only took 3 minutes for United to gain the 2 goal lead back when Tevez was taken down in the box and stepped up to score his second goal on a penalty.

By far the prettiest goal of the match was Tevez's third! After playing a one-two with Giggs, Anderson played another one-two with Tevez before walking in all alone on Robinson(Blackburn). When any other player would have selfishly shot - and most likely scored too - Anderson cooly slotted the ball back to an on-running Tevez who had the wide open net!

Late in the second half United gave up two back to back goals to Blackburn which sprung the life back into the side which was heavily deflated for the ladder 45 minutes of the game. As Blackburn pressed forward in injury time, hoping for an equalizer, United caught them on the counter attack, and Tevez scored his fourth to assure his team a spot in the Carling Cup semi-finals.

Of note: Scholes was substituted on in the 66th minutes, returning after being two months out due to injury. Welcome back Scholesy!

Would be happier if United didn't give up three...
Sunderland on Saturday!

Glory Glory Man United!
Cheers, Drew.

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