United book place in Wembley final
Carlos Tevez continued his fine Carling Cup form
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Tuesday, 20, Jan 2009 11:00
Manchester United booked their place in the final of the Carling Cup with a 4-2 win over Derby County at Old Trafford, meaning Sir Alex Ferguson's men progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Goals from Nani, John O'Shea, Carlos Tevez and a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty saw off the Championship strugglers, who gave themselves a slight chance of forcing extra-time with two late goals from substitute Giles Barnes.
United, trailing 1-0 to Kris Commons' first-leg goal, got themselves in front in the tie within 22 minutes.
Nani opened the scoring with a stunning strike in the 16th minute. The Portuguese winger glided past Gary Teale before unleashing an unstoppable 25-yard shot with flew into the top right-hand corner.
United took the aggregate lead six minutes later when O'Shea found himself unmarked in the box and had time to shift the ball out from under his feet before prodding the ball past Roy Carroll in the Derby goal.
The home side gave themselves a two-goal aggregate cushion nine minutes before half-time when Teves met Rafael's cross with a header which flashed past Carroll.
This appeared to the ensure United progress to the final, but Derby gave themselves a glimmer of hope of taking the game to extra-time when they won a penalty with ten minutes to go.
Paul Green was upended by Johnny Evans in the box and Barnes slotted home the penalty.
Whatever glimmer of hope this gave Derby was extinguished minutes later when Carroll brought down Tevez and Ronaldo rifled in the resulting penalty.
The goals weren't finished yet, however, and Barnes scored a free-kick that even Ronaldo would have been pleased with in injury-time, but United held on and will now meet either Tottenham or Burnley in the final at Wembley next month.