Carling Cup - Rampant Tevez cuts down Blackburn

Eurosport - Thu, 04 Dec 10:07:00 2008

A rampant Carlos Tevez scored a hat-trick to propel Manchester United to a 5-3 victory against Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

FOOTBALL Carlos Tevez Manchester United - 0

The Argentine international striker, a peripheral figure at United since the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov in the summer, thought he had scored the opener on 36 minutes - which went down as an Aaron Mokoena own goal - but there was no disputing his three second-half strikes in a scintillating performance.

Nani was also on the scoresheet for Sir Alex Ferguson's team, who overwhelmed Blackburn with a vibrant and composed display that belied the relative inexperience of several players in the line-up.

Two goals from substitute Benni McCarthy and one from Matt Derbyshire put a respectable gloss on the scoreline for the visitors, but in truth Paul Ince's side were comprehensively beaten and never in contention.

Blackburn did enjoy the first genuine chance of the evening, however, when Stephen Warnock's header drew an acrobatic save from United goalkeeper Ben Foster.

But United soon asserted themselves in midfield and with Anderson, Nani and Tevez buzzing productively in the final third it was only a matter of time before they went ahead.

After Darron Gibson won a free-kick on the right, Ryan Giggs swung an inviting ball towards the far post and Tevez's close attendance forced Mokoena to bundle the ball into his own net.

Five minutes later United doubled their lead. This time Tevez turned provider, teeing up Nani to fire a low shot past Robinson from just inside the box.

Blackburn looked a beaten side, but when substitute McCarthy scored almost immediately after his introduction for the second half, getting in behind Gary Neville to fire past Foster in some style, the visitors suddenly had a foothold in the game.

It lasted no more than two minutes. United won a penalty when Andre Oojier pulled down Tevez and the Argentine strolled up to calmly send Robinson the wrong way and put United 3-1 ahead.

Their best was yet to come. Just short of the hour mark, Anderson, Giggs and Tevez combined in a sumptuous three-player move, which culminated in a simple tap-in for the Argentine forward to complete his hat-trick.

United wasted several chances to increase their lead, and with 84 minutes on the clock McCarthy crossed for Derbyshire to poke home what appeared at first little more than a consolation for Blackburn.

But five minutes later Derbyshire returned the favour and McCarthy finished clinically to make it 4-3.

Before Blackburn had time to launch one last desperate attack, however, Tevez ran on to a through ball and blasted emphatically home to seal a deserved win for United and book his team's place in the semi-finals.

Moreover, the United striker sent the boldest of messages to his manager, who can surely not ignore him after this performance.

Will Tidey / Eurosport

Comment 2 - 21 of 81

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  1. Way to go MU...another promising performance well done­ lads

    From kebasi, on Thu 4 Dec 12:03AM

  2. zipreader you are clearly a fool. united were outplayed­ by arsenal about 3 weeks ago, i will give you that. but­ we are still fighting strong. and refs do not favour­ us. as they all say, every decision is balanced out at­ the end of the season.

    we beat blackburn with a­ weakened side, and still comprehensivily.

    and also,­ have you not watched football since he left west­ ham???? tevez was excellent last season, and will­ always be a fantastic player!!! who do you actually­ support? someone like colchester???

    From Podolski, on Wed 3 Dec 11:55PM

  3. Wenger take note, this is what happens when you take a­ cup seriously. And before any gooner says anything no­ I am not a northerner nor a Man U fan, so in advance of­ your whinging, belt up!!

    From Allen H, on Wed 3 Dec 11:47PM

  4. you Man Utd fans are a joke..Tevez performed best at­ West Ham..so you beat Blackburn, so what?..they are not­ the bet side in the world though scoring 3 against Man­ Utd and refs who favour Und is most creditable.
    Arsenal­ outplayed you the other week.

    From philip h, on Wed 3 Dec 11:40PM

  5. red @#$% !! .. MCFC .

    From Roger, on Wed 3 Dec 11:38PM

  6. Tevez over Rooney anyday... Berbs is incredible

    From Skelly T Michaels, on Wed 3 Dec 11:33PM

  7. Tevez over Berbatov any day

    From BG, on Wed 3 Dec 11:21PM

  8. Well done Carlos Tevez. It must be agonizing sitting on­ the bench as a world class player but he has been­ patient and his response tonight was awesome. Come­ Ferguson, give him more game time. If scoring four­ goals doesn't earn him a more regular position in­ the first team then Tevez should leave to a club where­ he will be looked after as a player. At the moment­ Fergie is just wasting his talent, and I say this as ­ Man U fan.

    From lassiestevens, on Wed 3 Dec 11:18PM

  9. Tevez must be signed permenantly now. He works for the­ team as opposed to some others.

    From Patrick, on Wed 3 Dec 11:03PM

  10. do you mean winning cameron? yet here we find you­ looking up a man utd story. are u really a closet utd­ fan?hmmmm suspect so.

    From joshua, on Wed 3 Dec 11:00PM

  11. looks like we have a few talented kids. tevez is a­ class player and should be a first team regular. could­ play him on the wing instead of ronaldo, then we­ guarenteed a player who will try and who wants to play­ for the reds. unfortunatly nev was caught badly for two­ goals, he looks finished.... but still a great servent­ to the club

    From Fran L, on Wed 3 Dec 10:57PM

  12. I despise everything about this club and all it­ represents; however, i have always maintained this:­ Tevez over Berbatov, each and every single time.

    From cameron w, on Wed 3 Dec 10:54PM

  13. why are so many

    From amyw2559675, on Wed 3 Dec 10:50PM

  14. The boys played quite well. But boys will be boys and­ mid-way in the second half they tend to drift off­ especially with Giggs' substitution. Blackburn took­ advantage and it almost cost MU the match. Two of the­ Blackburn goals were scored past Gary Neville - an­ indication he is not his old self - admittedly he­ played in the centre but twice he was caught and twice­ they scored. Nani was too overconfident and lacked­ concentration. Overall it was a good performance but­ the some of the boys need more time before they could­ qualify for the first eleven. Tevez proved his point­ and hopefully he would be given the chance to prove­ himself again on Saturday. Go ManU.

    From cokrowinoto, on Wed 3 Dec 10:38PM

  15. we're red hot..congrats man u..

    From saatnadiah, on Wed 3 Dec 10:34PM

  16. What a match. Not often you see eight goals. Well done­ to both teams.

    From quatt47, on Wed 3 Dec 10:34PM

  17. tevez shud replace berbatov in startin xi

    From darren.wrenn777, on Wed 3 Dec 10:33PM

  18. Tevez should replace Berbatov on Saturday after a­ brilliant performance tonight

    From , on Wed 3 Dec 10:33PM

  19. If fergie ignores tevez in da nxt game then he fergie­ is a proud,arogant @#$%

    From doczub, on Wed 3 Dec 10:33PM

  20. mau all the way. good job lads

    From tan, on Wed 3 Dec 10:31PM
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