Manchester United win League Cup on penalties

New Delhi: Manchester United defeated Tottenham Hotspur on penalties at Wembley to secure victory in the League Cup Final.

The first half was lively, with plenty of attempts on goal, although neither goalkeeper was required to make a top-class save.

Aaron Lennon was superbly denied by Ben Foster after the break, before Cristiano Ronaldo was thwarted by a post right at the death as the game moved towards extra-time.

Darren Bent and Patrice Evra both had chances during the 30 minute-period, but neither side could find a goal – meaning a penalty shoot-out was required.

In the shoot-out, Jamie O’Hara and David Bentley both missed, meaning the Red Devils triumphed.

The trophy is United’s third League Cup win, having last won trophy in 2006, and their third domestic Cup of this century.

Wayne Rooney was not in the Manchester United squad due to a virus, meaning Carlos Tevez partnered Danny Welbeck in attack. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson also kept faith with the likes of Darron Gibson, Nani and Foster – who had contributed in getting them to this stage.

Spurs were without Jonathan Woodgate due to an achilies injury, meaning Michael Dawson came into the defence. Darren Bent was handed a start up-front alongside Roman Pavlyuchenko as Harry Redknapp sent his team out in a 4-4-2 formation.

The Red Devils made the faster start to the match. Ronaldo came close with two early efforts, the first a 25-yard free-kick that dipped just over the crossbar, before he fired straight at goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes after Spurs lost possession two minutes later.

Gibson came so close to marking his Wembley debut with a goal as his thunderous long-range effort in the 13th minute came within inches of Heurelho Gomes’ top corner.

Three minutes later, Nani cut inside Lennon and shot towards the near post – forcing Gomes into a low save.

Then, as United pressed and Spurs failed to clear, Rio Ferdinand controlled well before narrowly missing the target after unleashing an audacious attempt from distance which had Gomes scrambling.

But after their slow start, Tottenham came into the game more as the half progressed. Ferdinand made an important challenge to deny Roman Pavlyuchenko after Lennon got in behind the United defence and cut the ball back.

Then, the English winger again found space and whipped in a good cross, but Pavlyuchenko put too much on his header and missed the target.

Shortly before the half-time interval, Luka Modric found space after drifting in from the left and slipped a pass through to Bent, whose shot was partially blocked by Jonny Evans before it fell into hands of United keeper Foster.

The second half began quietly, Ronaldo shooting over with another free-kick, before Jermaine Jenas chipped over for Tottenham.

The Red Devils came close on the hour mark when Spurs failed to clear a corner.

The ball came out to Evans, whose shot from the edge of the box was heading comfortably wide before Tevez flicked it towards goal – narrowly missing the target.

Controversy arrived in the 67th minute. Ronaldo cut inside into the box and poked the ball past Ledley King before being felled by the defender after what looked like slight contact. Referee Chris Foy did not award a penalty, however, instead electing to book the Portuguese winger for diving.

The best chance of the match to that point was created in the 71st minute by Tottenham. On the counterattack, Benoit Assou-Ekotto squared the ball from the left and after Modric’s clever dummy; the pass arrived at the feet of Lennon ten yards out.

The Englishman steadied himself and powered a shot on goal, only to be denied by a super reaction save by Foster.

With the game drifting extra-time, Ronaldo came so close to smashing a dramatic winner in the third minute of stoppage time. The Portugal international received a pass from Anderson, cut inside Assou-Ekotto and smashed a left-footed shot towards goal – only to be denied by the post.

The first period of extra-time saw United dominate possession, Tevez the closest to scoring with a header from Nani’s cross.

The second 15 minutes saw Spurs improve. Their best moment came after a super solo run from Modric saw him surge into the box and have a shot blocked, before the ball fell to Bent, whose effort was blocked by Foster’s legs.

The Red Devils also came close, though, Evans’ cross falling to Evra at the far post and the French full-back driving his shot just over.

But, after 120 minutes of football, there had been no breakthrough, so a penalty shoot-out was required.

And it was United who came out on top after O’Hara saw his penalty saved by Foster and Bentley dragged his effort wide – allowing Anderson to seal the trophy by slotting past Gomes.

Penalty shoot-out summary:

Giggs scored.

O’Hara missed.

Tevez scored.

Corluka scored.

Ronaldo scored.

Bentley missed.

Anderson scored.

Manchester United won 4-1 on penalties.

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