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Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official
Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM
A 7th League Cup Final now awaits Manchester United after
plucky Derby County were overcome at Old Trafford 4-2 (4-3
Agg), goals from Nani, JOS, Carlos Tevez & a late Cristiano
Ronaldo penalty finally ended a dream Final for Nigel
Clough's Rams despite a late set piece & penalty brace for
Giles Barnes.
The game also came at a cost for United as three players
were lost to injury.
With youth in the side again as fully expected SAF gave
starts to Rafael, Gibson, Welbeck & Foster combining Gary
Neville & Jonny Evans at centre half's & with Nani, Gibson,
Anderson & Ryan Giggs creating for Tevez & Welbeck.
With a slender
1-0 lead & an impressive following of fans, Derby's Kris
Commons within minutes of the start almost repeated his
heroics in the 1st leg after shooting from 30 yards at Ben
Foster which looked too close for comfort as the ball just
missed the top corner.
The game was
relatively comfortable for both sides for a period before
United opened the scoring with a trademark Nani goal, the
young forward who has scored more goals than last season but
frustrated in his general play overall latched on to a Ryan
Giggs pass on the left & after gathering race toward goal
before letting loose with a fierce shot from distance which
Ex United keeper Roy Carroll got a touch too, but still
failed to keep out of his net as the home side took the
lead.
Doubling their lead within 5 minutes United saw Derby's 1st
goal & raised it with a JOS strike in the box after the
fullback had been set up by the combination of Carlos Tevez
& Danny Welbeck, and it has to be said a poor offside trap.
United looking
more at ease that the last leg, increased the pressure on
Derby as Nani who arguably played his best game so far this
season tormented the Derby full backs with some decent
crosses & end product however Danny Welbeck the benefactor
to the good work by Nani miscued from 5 yards out giving Roy
Carroll and easy save.
The second to
last nail in the Derby coffin happened shortly after as
after a corner JOS fed Rafael on the right & the Young
Brazilian fired in a
David Beckham cross which Carlos Tevez (unmarked) simply
nodded into a practically empty net as the Derby defenders
scratched their heads after leaving the Apache without a
chaperone.
Almost at the
death of a productive half of football United lost their
first player to injury the night as Rafael was subbed for
Darren Fletcher and walked straight down the tunnel
(Editor: initial reports suggest hamstring injury 7 he could
be out for 3 weeks shortly before being joined by his
team mates.
Derby made a
chance at half time as Veteran & Ex United youth (Editor:
Note Savage contrary to popular belief never played a first
team game for Manchester United) Robbie Savage entered
the game for Steven Davies.
United were soon awarded a free kick after a Robbie Savage
tackle on Nani, from the resulting foul, up stepped Ryan
Giggs with a curling left foot attempt the Carroll saved
well.
Carlos Tevez then was put clean through & after beating Roy
Carroll the linesman flagged for offside & the goal was
disallowed.
SAF then sent on
Ronaldo for Ryan Giggs to the delight of the day trippers
who hadn't saw the Portuguese flyer and as he was introduced
a anticipating roar of anticipation & a 40 thousand cameras
flashed to greet the winker. (Editor: & despite the fact
they are too far away they still try anywayl)
Derby still with plenty of fight left in the belly
pressure United as a cross from the right from Paul Greenwas
nearly diverted into his own net by Gary Neville as the
visitors rallied..
SAF gave a 1st team debut to
James Chester as he replaced Gary Neville & opting to
giver his armband to the Best Player in the World, Ronnie
showing some class gave it to another more suitable &
experienced player in JOS who was making his 310th game for
the Reds.
With all United's
subs used injury number two came next as Jonny Evans hurt an
ankle after tackling Giles Barnes the young Irishman was
forced to play on as Rob Hulse capitalized on the injury but
his futile attempt caused Foster no trouble as his close
range header sailed over the bar.
Perhaps the
injury to Evans was taking its toll as with ten minutes left
Derby pulled one back in the form of a penalty through Giles
Barnes after Evans has fouled Paul Green.
With the threat of extra time of indeed Derby could score
again SAF move to the technical area to bollock his side &
with immediate impact United tested Carroll with shots from
Ronaldo and Nani.
Derby replied with a header from the impressive substitute
Giles Barnes which Foster saved with ease & with the Rams
pushing forward, United looked more dangerous on the break
as the Derby defenders left gaps.
Amid the flurry of Carlos Tevez being hatcheted down by
Carroll in the box for a dead cert penalty United then lost
Nani to injury.
Ronaldo
dispatched his penalty with ease to push the score to 4-2 on
aggregate before yes you guest it that man again old Giles
Barnes beat Ben Foster with a excellent free kick to bring
the score to 4-3.
United managed to
ride out the remaining time with another injury blow as
Anderson limped badly for the remainder of the game exiting
on a stretcher.
So congratulations to United & all their staff, my Dogs are
already booked in the Kennels, my train & accommodation is
booked & all remains is to obtain one of the 31,748
available tickets.
INJURY UPDATE
SAF said "Anderson will have to go for an X-ray," "There
is some damage, we don’t know exactly what. We'll see what
happens after the X-ray.
"Jonny Evans has got a recurrence of the ankle injury he’s
been holding for quite a few weeks now. Hopefully he’ll be
okay in a week’s time.
"Rafael will be out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury.
I think his injury knocked us back a little bit because his
penetration was fantastic in the first half.
"We’ve had quite a few injuries tonight and it’s been a bad
night for us that way, but we’re in the (Carling Cup) final
and we should celebrate that."
What's your
opinion?.....HAVE YOU'RE SAY BELOW |
Nani (16 mins),
