Eurosport - Wed, 12 Nov 11:09:00 2008
Manchester United booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup after a second-half Carlos Tevez penalty gave them an unconvincing 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford.
Tevez was one of the few United first-team regulars on show at a wet and windy Old Trafford as Sir Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes from the side defeated by Arsenal at the weekend.
Although United dominated possession throughout the first-half, chances were few and far between, and the home side only had a series of poorly-delivered corners to show for their dominance.
For most of the evening the hosts were lacking in quality, and despite some promising build-up play United's finishing was not to their usual standard, with Nani and Anderson particularly wayward in the first half.
The visitors, who are currently without a full-time manager after the recent departure of Iain Dowie, struggled to provide any kind of service to lone striker Dexter Blackstock and failed to trouble Tomas Kuszczak with a single shot in the opening 45 minutes.
Rangers were forced into an early change when Akos Buzsaky was replaced by Patrick Agyemang on 33 minutes as the Hungarian was forced off by a knee injury.
Caretaker boss Gareth Ainsworth made further changes at half-time as Emanuel Ledesma replaced the disappointing Daniel Pareja.
The second half was a livelier affair as Nani beat several men before lashing a shot at goal and South Korea international Ji-Sung Park struck the post after some fine work on the right by young Brazilian Rafael Da Silva.
United's players were clearly growing increasingly frustrated by their inability to create an opening and, no doubt frustrated himself, Ferguson withdrew Rodrigo Possebon for young striker Danny Welbeck.
It did not take long for Welbeck to make his mark and within two minutes he was hauled down by Peter Ramage and United had a penalty, which Tevez coolly converted.
It seemed that there was no way back for QPR, but they had saved their best for last: Samuel Di Carmine had a goal ruled out for offside and Blackstock could have stolen an equaliser right at the death, but it was not to be for the Championship side.
Comment 35 - 54 of 54
These Man Utd fans make you sick, Liverpool havent got the depth in their squad to cope with united and chelsea - please. We beat that @#$% 8 points behind us with no Torres or Gerrard. Think we ll go close this season, but if we dont manage to win the premier league it certainly wont be united. Chelsea are the team to beat if u want to win it this season. Yep and they have got 17, one less than us, and how many champions leagues is it now? Dont think its 5 thats for sure!
I was at the Arsenal game last night and I don't want to admit it, but I was bloody impressed. Average age of 18 beating a premiership 1st team? Unbelievable. During that game I was making sure I was kept up to date with the UTD QPR score. I couldn't believe the only way we could win was by a penalty. Shocking.
What is going on with the team? We even had a pretty decent side out. We paved the way for training up the young talented players but now I'm starting to think that UTD is only attracting talent that slowly gets wasted away by players that are too focused on money. The only player at the moment really fighting for his place is Tevez.
Fergie needs to stick with a side and formation that works, you cant experiment ON the pitch.
ok, First & Foremost I am a football fan. Would people please stop spouting about anything over 5 years ago!!! it has little or no relevance now because at LEAST 50% of managerial and/or playing staff at most clubs is different within 5 years. And as for trebles... phffff. Would yis all just stop the rubbish!
Utd are the current defending champions of both Europe and England. The two most sought-after trophies by any English club. Period. AND Note the use of the word CURRENT. Liverpool are currently... ??? oh yeh, they won their 18th & most recent league title 17 years ago... united won their 17th 6 months ago!!! -Only 1 in it now!!
I don't believe Liverpool yet have the depth and quality of squad to sustain a challenge in both Europe AND the Premiership. I think they'll be close but no cigar in 1 (not both) but win neither because Utd, Arsenal & Chelsea are all better equipped than them to fight both fronts.
1999 united did THE TREBLE! liverpool have never done that FACT! you know nothing
you have no credibility and are probably not even from england....
Whogivesafcuk what you say. Liverpool have won the league, league cup and champions league equivalent in the same year..... that is three trophies and hence a treble... of course Manpoo have won doubles but never three tournaments in one year.... suc k on that losers.
OK I fess up - I am not even English but have always loved liverpool. I am not a walking encylodia
yes they played badly in front of the post,yes QPR are suppose to recevie enough goals,yes MAN U played at home,but a win is a win.Asenal had a great game but can they sustain it?
in the 1980s united were a fawn is liverpool side recording more victories versus liverpool both home and away than anyone else.... so much for your unbeatable theory unprintable???? am I still to young??? one thing is for sure, "know your enemy"...
oh about money issues etc, stop singing your excuses, liverpool used to buy players and put tem in reserves so no other team could have them. they had all the money back, so its a bit sanctimonous for you to say such tripe lady... me thinks you need to read more before spurting such bombastic statements....
Liverpool have done the trebble but was not called Champions Leaugue then.
When was this then? They did the 'Mickey Mouse' Treble granted - but who counts the League Cup?. The treble consists of the three MAJOR Champions - Premiership, F.A. Cup and Champions League.... but then, what would a woman know about football?... especially a scouser!
not printable knows nothing. liverpool have never ever dont a european treble! face facts! they have done a domestic treble only. you obviously know @#$% about football and its history.... you have no credibility after that one split @#$%
liverpool fans have been spouting for years that this is going to be the season they finally win the title again, its every season they say this, but it never happens and once again this season it wont happen again. In my opinion they simply do not have the same quality in their squad as the likes of man utd, chelsea or arsenal. Once again they will fade away and perhaps finish 3rd or 4th at best. Ok they are joint top of the league, but many other teams have been top in past seasons and nothing has come of it at the end of the season. Sorry lfc fans im just stating my opinion your team lacks something that man u, arsenal and chelsea have.
Geoff - I dont think last season united started off so badly?? But again another decent person in here - makes a change - the rubbish must be out quaffing
I will admite 2 decades it has been reasonably bleak - but not empty. Reason being that you have had continuity in excellent management and even better marketing strategy which funded your purchases way beyong the pathetic pennies Liverpool had. But it is funny, when we had a couple of Scottish managers - we also were unbeatable, hmmmm that is an interesting comparison.
LEE - YOU ARE TOO YOUNG. Liverpool have done the trebble but was not called Champions Leaugue then. We have also won the Champions leaugue more times than United, we have been in the final more times than ANY other team. So Pipe down.
But thank you for being polite - kisses
hmmmmmmmmmmm. people writing off united again........ lets face it from a neutreal perspective they are the best team in the prem.
they always start slow to a season, and always have the consistency to win titles- thats what winnin the league is about. IL put MONEY on the fact that in april it will be a two horse race between united and chelasea- no offence to arsenal and Liverpool- but form is temporary, class is permanent- people always write unitred off- bla bla bla this is the end of united bla bla bla.....
yeah arsenal got a result last sat they were LUCKY united were all ova them for 88 mins for the game and any other day rooney and ronaldo would have converted and woulve F''t arsenal over.
24 year gap between utd titles... like thas somehow shameless??? we have mopped up over the last two decades. and now liverpools record is not quite so untouchable.
you write off utd are your peril.
ahahaha liverpool have never won the premiership (17 seasons)! and your so called record was suppost to be untouchable! we have dominated the last two decades my dear!!! and done things your club has not done (i.e. the treble! ahahahaha!) who did the double last year too? what did the scousers win. You have won nothing yet this season, so I would not get too cocky. One injury to gerrard and your season will be over!
United are stuttering, but its tradition for us at this time of the year. come what may it will either utd or chelski that lift the title.
@34-35 looney tunes
NOT PRINTABLE IS A NOB HEAD
more than 30 years (33 I think... not sure)
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