Carling Cup - Rooney retains Carling Cup for United

Eurosport - Sun, 28 Feb 16:50:00 2010

Red-hot Wayne Rooney came off the bench to settle the Carling Cup final as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Wembley.

2010 Carling Cup final Manchester United - 0

Rooney, on as a 42nd minute substitute for Michael Owen, headed home in the 74th minute to ensure last year's winners retained the trophy - the first time United have successfully defended a cup competition.

James Milner gave Villa an early lead from the penalty spot only for Owen, who started the game in place of Rooney, to level things up on 13 minutes with a clinical strike.

But inevitably it was Rooney who grabbed the headlines, the England striker continuing his recent electric form with a 12th goal in nine games.

It was Villa who started the brighter at a soggy Wembley, and the five-times winner took the lead in just the fourth minute, Milner sending Tomasz Kuszczak the wrong way from the spot after Gabriel Agbonlahor was upended by Nemanja Vidic in the box.

It was not the last time Vidic, who bafflingly got away without further punishment, looked suspect during a shaky first half, particularly when faced with the pace of Agbonlahor and Ashley Young.

But Villa's lead lasted just eight minutes, with Owen restoring parity soon after.

Rooney's appearance on the bench came as a surprise - he succumbed to a late knee complaint - yet in Owen, Ferguson not only had a natural born finisher to call on, he had a player who was desperate to make an impression in what was a rare start for him.

And what an impact the striker made in front of the watching Fabio Capello. As he has on occasion this season, he rolled back the years with a tremendous finish past Brad Friedel after Richard Dunne's pockets were picked by Dimitar Berbatov.

But, just as it looked like the 'Owen for England' bandwagon was about to be fired up once again, the wheels promptly fell off as he limped off with a pulled hamstring before the end of the first half.

Nevertheless, Owen's goal had served to spark United into life, and the Premier League champions went on to enjoy the better of the opening period, despite sighters from James Milner and Emile Heskey which Kuszczak was forced to deal with.

Park Ji-sung nearly made United's slight superiority count in first half stoppage time, the South Korean's crisp strike pinging back off the upright after Stephen Warnock had slipped on the greasy turf.

United emerged for the second half in similarly determined mood, Michael Carrick's effort from the edge of the box matched only by Friedel's excellent save four minutes after the restart.

Antonio Valencia in particular was a real handful for the Villa defence after the break, and it was the Ecuadorian's lofted cross which Rooney met with a looping header over Friedel - similar to his first against Milan in the Champions League - to put United into the lead.

Rooney could, and possibly should, have added another four minutes later - again with his head - but his downward effort from a standing position cannoned back off the base of the upright with Friedel beaten all ends up.

Villa briefly threatened to grab a late equaliser as the clock ran down, Kuszczak having to backpeddle furiously to tip a deflected cross over his crossbar on 82 minutes, but United's backlline never really looked like being breached for a second time.

So it proved, and United held on to finally avenge their defeat by Villa in the 1994 final.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 122 - 141 of 141

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  1. :( YAWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN Oh i see Man.. Utd have won­ another CUP yawwwnnnnnnnn think I will go watch more ­ paint dry yawwwwnnnnnn

    From dl56uk, on Tue 6 Apr 12:06

  2. UNITED IS THE BEST AMONG THE REST IT IS OUR PORTION AND­ ALSO INHERITANCE WE ARE GOING TO RERAN PREMIER LEG SAYS­ BY SIR ALIX FAGUNSION

    From Oguboyy, on Thu 4 Mar 10:28

  3. wembley wembley we the famous man united and we win­ again in wembley! GGMU!

    From hafiz, on Wed 3 Mar 3:54

  4. THERE IS ONLY ONE UNITED......
    THERE IS ONLY ONE­ UNITED......
    THERE IS ONLY ONE­ UNITED......!!!!!!!

    CHAMPIONE...........
    CHAMPIONE....­ ......
    OH WEY OH WEY OH­ WEY!!!!!
    CHAMPIONE...........
    CHAMPIONE............
    OH­ WEY OH WEY OH WEY!!!!!!!

    WE RETAINED THE CARLING­ CUP.......
    THIS YEAR AT WEMBLEY PARK.......
    THIS YEAR­ AT WEMBLEY PARK.......
    THIS YEAR AT WEMBLEY­ PARK.......

    WE RETAINED THE CARLING CUP.....
    THIS YEAR­ AT WEMBLEY PARK
    THIS YEAR AT WEMBLEY PARKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!

    From Elizabeth, on Tue 2 Mar 12:06

  5. rooney is the best player after zizu in this­ univers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From rronney36, on Tue 2 Mar 10:53

  6. ferguson 1 dowd & villa 0. Fergies mind games win­ again.

    From steve, on Tue 2 Mar 7:35

  7. Maybe Vidic should have gone but Oneil is deflecting­ the media away from a match United deserved to­ win.After what United did to Villa at Villa Park with­ ten men I suspect United would still have won with ten­ men and that would have been humiliating.Good Luck to­ Martin in the FA Cup

    From harrysingleton22, on Tue 2 Mar 6:34

  8. When you hear someone that is bias or that is giving a­ loosers cry you can tell from the first statement. So­ Villa is waiting for another red card again. What about­ the red card against Nani in the return leg of the­ premiership game at Villa park, did the young man­ deserve a red card for contesting for the ball. Even­ with Man u reduced to ten men, they had the best chance­ to win the game on that day. Villa and the fan, you are­ really trying now, but you are not just there yet. When­ you get up nthere, you will be winning matches, for now­ stop ranting and complaining, face the goal you had at­ the beginning of finishing in the top for, your loosing­ that on is more painful because that is your best for­ now.

    From peace s, on Tue 2 Mar 3:39

  9. 123.151.Vidic made two clearances preventing goals in­ the­­ second half when he souldn't have been on­ the­­ f'ucking pitch. What a load of S*@IT. VILLA­ TILL I­­­ DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ ­ ­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Nick, on Tue 2 Mar 2:24

  10. Man u ruling. One trophy at the theatre of dream. More­ on the way.

    From Festus, on Tue 2 Mar 2:09

  11. 'Scott', you're a typical Chelsea supporter­ - a mouthy, gutless T.W.A.T!
    I was supporting a decent­ team when your tribe of latecomers were a permanent­ fixture in Division2!

    From dave.fleming, on Tue 2 Mar 1:39

  12. so the mighty villa think ,that with a one goal lead ,­ if they could have then played almost the whole match­ against 10 men they MIGHT have won...wow what an­ achievment that would have been......mind you with­ their tactic of running at high speed hoping to be­ fouled perhaps they could have reduced Utd to 9 or even­ 8

    From Chill, on Tue 2 Mar 1:36

  13. yet another resault for the F.A. can any one answer why­ wasnt vidic walking down the tunnel with a red card for­ the penalty or was that a red shirt poking out under­ the refs shirt???????????????????????????

    From paulb1944, on Mon 1 Mar 23:33

  14. was rooney--the only player---or was there 10 others ?

    From donald k, on Mon 1 Mar 22:56

  15. Thumbs up 2 united...they really deserved 2 win d match­ having got an absolutely reliable striker in­ Roo....VILLA also deserved commendation cos they almost­ matched united in all categories of d game....their­ improvement and fighting spirit has been exceptional­ this season...hope they do better next tym....

    From Dannysmart, on Mon 1 Mar 22:48

  16. i hate man u as much as the next man. but watching­ rooney lately is fantastic!! i hope fergie doesnt fook­ him up for the world cup. cause in this form......who­ knows?????

    From jimbob333, on Mon 1 Mar 22:43

  17. Osman.. you are the real loser of chelsea fan..
    I hope­ this year Champions League Final will be CHELSHIT vs­ MAN UTD..
    and on that day we will know who the­ best...
    CHELSHIT!!!

    From Mohammad, on Mon 1 Mar 21:55

  18. Congratulation to MAn U......
    Your team deserve to win­ the cup.
    For Liverpool keep improve to challenge Man U­ /Man City /Chelsea next season...The question is , can­ Liverpool able to score next season with Gerrard and­ Torres no more with Liverpool? If the rumours City to­ buy the both players come true.
    Please thumb up for yes­ and thumb down for no.

    From Due, on Mon 1 Mar 21:40
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Again a game that includes Manure is decided by the­ ref. last man foul a player once meant a red card but­ nt if its Manure, not even a yellow card. that big­ belly ref should stop ref games and start doing his­ passion which is food eating contest.

    From derrick, on Mon 1 Mar 20:48

  20. mane chelsea yg tersangat2 blagak bgs..ape piale yg­ korg dpt..nk kate mng sorak pon x jgk..korg sembg je­ lbey..haha

    From Apis, on Mon 1 Mar 20:32
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