Manchester United win 4-1 on penalties
CARLING CUP final Wembley Stadium, London, 15.00pm GMT, Sunday 1st March 2009.
Attendance: 88,217

Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official Reporter @ MUFCINFO.COM

The Torch, the traditional United Wembley Pub

Manchester United claimed their third League Cup of their long illustrious history on Sunday after narrowly defeating a deserving Tottenham side on penalties.  With great saves a plenty & the woodwork standing in the way of both teams attack, the inevitable lottery of penalties determined the eventual winner of the 2009 Carling Cup.

Tottenham fresh after resting so many upon exiting the UEFA Cup in midweek had selection problems of their own with Harry Redknapp's new signings Pascal Chimbona, Carlo Cudicini, Robbie Keane, United's Frazier Campbell all unable to play, Jonathan Woodgate also failed a fitness test on an Achilles injury.

SAF had similar options giving starts to the many youngsters who have been simply "good enough" to break into the 1st team as Evans, Gibson, Welbeck & Foster started with most notable absentees missing in Wayne Rooney (virus), Rafael (ankle), Gary Neville (virus).

As United warmed up for the final on Sunday with the further good news that in the Saturday fixtures, Liverpool you remember Liverpool....yes the team that won the Premiership in September when they beat Man Utd 2-1 were beaten 2-0 away to Middlesbrough, Arsenal slipped up again & were booed by the Emirates crowd & Chelsea were shite with Fat & Jammy Frank Lampard only scoring in injury time to take 2 points away from Steve Bruce's men, who apparently deserved to win.

Harry Redknapp opted for a double pairing of Bent & Pavlyuchenko up front to try to possibly trouble the Red Rookies but with Rio Ferdinand & the remarkable Jonny Evans at the top of their game, the Spurs strike pairing were marshaled well as the game unfolded.

United started the brightest with the Gun slinging style of Ronaldo showcased in front of the 88k crowd early as his specialty style of free kick flew over the crossbar, Welbeck then was sent through by a classic pass from Scholes but the Manchester born youngster didn't trouble the Spurs goal.  It was all United in the early going as Darron Gibson smashed a long range shot forcing Gomes to pull off a diving save & the Spurs keeper again was made to work as he saved a Nani shot forcing the ball  behind for a United corner.


With the initial period of United pressure subsided, Spurs began to find a tempo as the brilliant Aaron Lennon beat Patrice Evra (not for the last time in the game) and as he entered the danger zone crossed for Bent but only found the brick wall of Rio Ferdinand who cleared as Marcus Bent was sniffing.

The View

The United Captain for the day after foiling Spurs earlier almost reversed his role with a goal from a dipping long range volley, which with a minuscule amount of accuracy more would have saw a contender for goal of the season, however the ball only touched the roof of the Tottenham net keeping the scores level at 0-0.

Luka Modric like his partner Aaron Lennon began to impress as the Spurs midfielder fed Lennon who sped toward United goal after a through ball only to find himself narrowly offside & as Tottenham began to build Pavlyuchenko headed wide.

Making Patrice Evra look uncharacteristically ordinary on this day (this was not helped by Nani's poor tracking & defensive display), Lennon doing his best to nullify the threat of Evra going forward on United's left also beat the French full back on numerous occasions but as has been the story with Lennon's career to date the young flyer's final pass was either poor or he found Evans & Ferdinand who cleared the danger.

Walking Down Wembley Way

Ronaldo who was United's main threat throughout started the second half much like the 1st with a free kick & again the World Player of the Year scared the Tottenham defence who it has to be said defended well, later after finding himself running at the Tottenham goal surprised many when rather than the expected shot, Ronaldo crossed but the ball went agonizingly passed all the onrushing United attack.  With Tottenham reply coming from poor Pavlyuchenko set piece & the game turning vary scrappy, SAF decided that youngster Welbeck would live to fight another day as he was replaced by Anderson to give United some needed urgency & creativity in the central area.

Harry Redknapp soon made changes when Pavlyuchenko was replaced by Tottenham's previous season Goalscoring hero Jamie O'Hara.

With Anderson visibly having an influential effect in midfield Carlos Tevez almost scored when he tried to steer a Jonny Evans shot goalbound & United continued as Ronaldo still like the proverbial annoying Wasp to the Spurs defence saw his reputation go before him as he ran along the penalty box before being felled by a clumsy Ledley King tackle which after receiving a yellow card, on closer inspection could & should have been a penalty.

Spurs almost took the lead but for a perfect save from Ben Foster when Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross found Aaron Lennon at the far post in space, but a fantastic diving save from the United keeper kept the teams in a deadlock.

Previously yellow carded for poor tackling JOS caught Modric & was lucky still to be on the pitch before being substituted for Nemanja Vidic who slotted next to Rio with Evans switching to right back.

With full time rapidly approaching United almost took the game in normal time as Ronaldo running from the right of goal smashed a shot beating Gomez, but not the woodwork as his venomous strike only deflected unkindly to Nani who failed to punish Spurs with the rebound.

Ryan Giggs was introduced for extra time for Darron Gibson & Spurs freshened their team with Giggs' fellow countryman Gareth Bale giving Redknapp the option of Bale's attacking pace on the left, a welcome site for United fans & players alike was the cramp which Aaron Lennon had fallen victim to & with Lennon having to be replaced by Bentley, Patrice Evra especially must have gleefully celebrated after the Frenchman's torrid time.

IN a 30 minute period void of any real highlight Foster saved from a Bent shot & Patrice Evra narrowly saw his rising shot go above the bar as both teams prepared for penalties.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT
MAN UTD	Giggs	Tevez	Ronaldo	Anderson
					4
SPURS	O'Hara	Corluka	Bentley
	XX		X		1

Ryan Giggs narrowly beat Gomez for the 1st before Ben Foster dived saving from Jamie O'Hara.

Carlos Tevez converted his spot kick as did Vedran Corluka for Tottenham.

Next came Ronaldo who struck his penalty down the middle & after scoring David Bentley missed wide of the post.




Anderson (pictured left) then scored for United who collected their 3rd League Cup in the reign of Alex Ferguson.

Pasta Plus, a rather fine Italian just off Euston Station	2am ish in the Todhunter/Abbott Suite
The WCR Huck Finn Shorts Competition Entrants. Left to right: Ged "Tom Sawyer" Scott sporting the inflatable blow up style short Mr Greame Todhunter sporting the unfinished Hillbilly Dungarees look & last but by no means least sporting the Mississippi style specials Mr Gary "Huckelberry" Pattinson.
Killen & Adams opinion of Todhunters shorts.

A big up goes to Niffy for the arranging of the transport & Hotels, thanks man.

My Missus Stacy,

Austin, Paul Cain, & Cliff & Reg from the Workington Bus for the company and Pasta Plus diners.







Ron, Alex, from the Dutch Mancunians & there two Drunk mates.










Mick Groom, the owner of the United, Kids, Wife in that order Flag.










Simon Curwen from the MUFC Parachute Regiment.






The Chaps from the Whitehaven Bus & the following in no particular order the chaps who were all part of a fabulous weekend.
 

Grant "Walter Winterbottom" Thompson	Grant Gledhill	Kev "Chav" Killen	Neal "Castle Greyskull" Fearon	Ryan "Cheeks" Cain	Ged "The Wasp" Scott	The Hetherington's Dave & Michael	Abbott
Steve Power	Elle	Tanner "Two Rivers" Penn	Simon Curwen	Big Craig	Waitrose	Patty	Tabs Tabner	Toddy

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