United Come From Behind To Retain Carling Cup For The First Time

ASTON VILLA 1                                       MANCHESTER UTD 2

Milner                                                              Owen,Rooney

Manchester United survived and early probable red card for Nemanja Vidic to retain a cup competition for the first time.

Vidic’s clumsy challenge on gabriel Agbonlahoare should have seen him red carded but he wasnt even booked despite conceding a penalty.

Manchester United started the match without the talismanic Rooney, who was suffering from a slight illness before kick-off, replaced Michael Owen late in the first half after his team-mate pulled up with a hamstring injury. Owen had earlier equalled James Milner’s penalty but it was his fellow striker who snatched the headlines once again. With 74 minutes on the clock, Rooney rose highest to head home Antonio Valencia’s hanging cross. And he nearly repeated the trick just four minutes later as another header crashed off the post. But his effort proved decisive and Manchester United’s name was etched onto the Carling Cup for the second season running.

Villa got off to a flying start when Gabriel Agbonlahor raced away in the fourth minute. The England man headed straight for the box with Nemanja Vidic hot on his tail. United’s experienced centre-back grabbed a handful of his opponent’s shirt before a mistimed tackle sent him sprawling. Referee Phil Dowd wasted no time in pointing to the spot and Vidic was fortunate to get away with at the very least a yellow card. Milner stepped up to convert the penalty in emphatic style and hand Martin O’Neill’s men the lead after five minutes.

But they only held the lead for just seven minutes with Owen firing United back on level. Villa skipper Richard Dunne had his pocket picked by Dimitar Berbatov before recovering to slide the ball away from the Bulgarian. But his tackle pushed it into Owen’s path and the striker drilled past Brad Friedel. The Villans tried to respond immediately and Milner saw his shot turned away by Tomasz Kuszczak. United continued to look dangerous on the break before Berbatov’s clever backheel provided Park Ji Sung with a good opportunity.

But the midfielder was quickly surrounded by white shirts and his prodded 20th-minute effort rolled harmlessly wide. Villa attempted to take the sting out of the game after Park’s chance by knocking the ball around at the back. Yet United were in no mood to chase the game and quickly regained possession. Park tried to release Berbatov but the striker was stopped in his tracks by an offside flag.  Alex Ferguson’s men continued to look more composed on the ball as the half wore on, only to be dealt a blow four minutes before the break when Owen limped out of action. There was, however, a bright side for United with Rooney coming off the bench to replace the former England man.

And Roo was involved as they came close to taking the lead in first-half stoppage time. The striker helped link the play before Park cracked a left-foot drive against the post with Friedel beaten. United continued where they left off after the break and a sweeping move tore Villa apart. It culminated with Berbatov’s flick giving Michael Carrick a sight of goal but Friedel came to the rescue by turning the shot away for a corner. Villa refused to let United have the game all their own way and Ashley Young launched an attack by leaving Darren Fletcher for dead after 56 minutes.

But the winger’s cross failed to find a team-mate and the move fizzled out when Stilian Petrov drove a shot wide. O’Neill’s side continued to press yet time and time again the final ball let them down, with Stewart Downing and Young the main culprits. United had to make another change in the 66th minute with veteran Gary Neviile replacing Rafael. And Villa were finally made to pay for lacking a cutting edge when United took the lead 16 minutes from time. A slow build-up resulted in Valencia waltzing his way into the Villa box before a one-two with Berbatov allowed him to stand up a cross.

And man of the moment Rooney was on hand to rise highest and plant a header over Friedel. Rooney was clearly in the mood to add to his tally and the England ace was on the end of another Valencia cross in the 78th minute. His header left Friedel well beaten but Villa were able to breathe a sigh of relief when the ball hit the post.

With the game slipping away, O’Neill threw on John Carew for Carlos Cuellar. And the change inspired his side to make a late push for an equaliser. Kuszczak was called into action to tip over a James Collins header before Dunne was penalised for climbing over all over Berbatov as Stewart Downing swung in a corner. But it was United who had the best chance to score again five minutes from time.

Valencia was once again the architect but Berbatov lent back as he connected with the former Wigan man’s pass and scooped the ball well over. Villa refused to throw in the towel and should have drawn level a minute from time when Dunne came piling through a crowd to connect with Young’s cross. But O’Neill was left with his head in his hands when his skipper could only manage to direct his header just wide of the post.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.