27 Jan 2010
The banner at the Stretford End mocking Manchester
City's lengthy wait for a trophy will not be torn down just
yet.
City boss Roberto Mancini vowed to tear it down, while their
cocksure chief executive Garry Cook had predicted an imminent power
shift in Manchester.
Yet all their bold rhetotic proved premature, as United put
their "noisy neighbours" firmly in their place by reaching Wembley
at their expense and prolonging their 34-year wait for
silverware.
On the eve of the game Sir Alex Ferguson accused City of getting
"carried away" with their plans for world domination, and mocked
the hapless Cook's delusions of grandeur.
Wayne Rooney quietened 'noisy neighbours'
Manchester City with an injury-time winner which sent Manchester
United to Wembley.
Last week, in a New York bar named Mad Hatter, City chief
executive Garry Cook delivered the best team-talk Sir Alex Ferguson
could have wanted as he declared this Carling Cup tie as good as
over with the Blues leading 2-1 from the first leg at
Eastlands.
If Cook knew much about Manchester United, it is this - never
write them off.
So, after Carlos Tevez had threatened to take the semi-final
into extra-time when he quite brilliantly turned home Craig
Bellamy's cross 14 minutes from time, up popped Rooney, who nodded
home Ryan Giggs' cross to secure a Carling Cup final meeting with
Aston Villa on February 28.
In fact, the Red Devils thought they were already there.
Controlling possession against a City side which sat too deep,
they had carved out a decisive lead thanks to two precise finishes
from Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.
Only Tevez's refusal to bow at the feet of his old club kept the
Blues going, but it was not enough. And though Rooney inexplicably
failed to grab a third before Tevez struck, he is too much a part
of United's fabric to merely accept defeat.
City were attempting to "change history" in Mancini's words.
In pure domestic and European terms alone, United had made 21
cup final appearances and won 11 league titles since the Blues last
reached Wembley in 1981.
Tevez was the clear focal point for City from the start. The
South American flung himself at a Bellamy cross and Edwin van der
Sar needed Jonny Evans' help to ensure there was no trouble after
he had dropped what seemed to be a routine save.
Rio Ferdinand got away with a despairing lunge at Tevez that
left the former United man on the deck. If referee Howard Webb had
been feeling in a stricter mood, the gamble of playing Ferdinand
this evening and leaving the consequences to be faced tomorrow when
he goes before an FA disciplinary panel could have backfired
disastrously.
In the spotlight: the game was bound to focus on United old-boy
Carlo Tevez whose comments after the first leg had couased such
controversy...
and the match was torrid from the outset with both teams living
up to the pre-match hype
Hard-fought: Rio Ferdinand clashes with Carlos
Tevez
Paul Scholes to break the deadlock and level the score on
aggregate seven minutes into the second half
Delighted: Veteran midfielder Paul Scholes
SCHO GOOD ... Paul Scholes celebrates his opener at Old Trafford
last night
In it goes: Michael Carrick then stunned City with a goal 20
minutes later
Last action hero: Wayne Rooney wheels away after shattering
City's Carling Cup dream
Sheer delight: Rooney's 21st goal of the season put the tie
beyond City who last reached Wembly in 1981
Celebration: Rooney jumps on scorer Carrick's shoulders after
United's second, and later sealed it
Top man: Wayne Rooney quietened 'noisy neighbours' Manchester
City with an injury-time winner which sent Manchester United to
Wembley
So close: Mancini saw City denied their first Wembley appearance
since 1981
United players celebrate meeting Aston Villa at wembley Stadium
on Feb 28th in a repeat of the 1994 Carling Cup final.
As the teams trooped in for their half-time pep talk,
the feeling persisted that the game was destined to
explode.
The firecracker went off seven minutes after the restart and
following a brief stoppage after Bellamy had been hit on the back
of the head by a coin as he went to retrieve the ball for a City
corner.
United quickly countered as City conceded possession. Rooney
delivered a superb pass for Giggs, who would have had a clear sight
of goal if City goalkeeper Shay Given had not been so quick to
react and push him out wide.
The veteran Welshman did not panic and delivered the ball back
into the City area and, after, Nani had run into a wall of
defenders, Michael Carrick prodded the ball back for Scholes, who
drove his shot into the bottom corner.
United had the scent of Wembley in their nostrils and when Nani
flicked a superb pass through to Darren Fletcher inside the City
box, the Scotland star had the awareness to lay a pass off to
Carrick. The England midfielder does not score many, but he is an
accurate striker of the ball and his shot was perfectly placed into
the bottom corner with the aid of the post.
If Rooney had tapped home Patrice Evra's cross when he was
completely unmarked three minutes later, the tie would have been
over. Inexplicably, he put it wide.
It was virtually certain Rooney would be made to pay almost
instantly. After playing a pass out to Bellamy, Tevez continued his
run and somehow managed to squeeze the ball beyond Van der Sar from
the most unlikely angle.
United could feel aggrieved but relief should have arrived 10
minutes from time when Vincent Kompany's block offered Carrick a
second chance. On this occasion though his snap shot flew wide.
But Rooney still had one more trick up his sleeve. And with it
came a very large slice of humble pie for Cook.
