Rooney: Dramatic winnerayne Rooney headed
home in second-half injury-time to book Manchester United's place in the
Carling Cup final after they inflicted a 4-3 aggregate victory over
bitter rivals Manchester City.
However, Paul Scholes was on target early in the second period to draw United level on aggregate before Michael Carrick handed the holders the edge as his strike clipped the post on its way into goal.
City, though, would not go down without a fight and former Red Devils forward Carlos Tevez restored parity overall as he angled in a classy effort that looked set to send the match to extra-time.
But two minutes into injury-time, Rooney, who earlier missed a golden opportunity to wrap up the game, headed in from close range to set up a clash with Aston Villa at Wembley on 28th February.
History
City were attempting to "change history" in manager Roberto Mancini's words.In pure domestic and European terms alone, United had made 21 cup final appearances and won 11 league titles since the Blues last reached Wembley in 1981.
Tevez was the clear focal point for City from the start. The South American flung himself at a Craig Bellamy cross and Edwin van der Sar needed Jonny Evans' help to ensure there was no trouble after he had dropped what seemed to be a routine save.
Rio Ferdinand got away with a despairing lunge at Tevez that left the former United man on the deck. If referee Howard Webb had been feeling in a stricter mood, the gamble of playing Ferdinand this evening and leaving the consequences to be faced on Thursday when he goes before an FA disciplinary panel could have backfired disastrously.
As the teams trooped in for their half-time pep talk, the feeling persisted that the game was destined to explode.
The firecracker went off seven minutes after the restart, and following a brief stoppage after Bellamy had been hit on the back of the head by a coin as he went to retrieve the ball for a City corner.
United quickly countered as City conceded possession. Rooney delivered a superb pass for Ryan Giggs, who would have had a clear sight of goal if City goalkeeper Shay Given had not been so quick to react and push him out wide.
The veteran Welshman did not panic and delivered the ball back into the City area and, after, Nani had run into a wall of defenders, Carrick prodded the ball back for Scholes, who drove his shot into the bottom corner.
Perfect
United had the scent of Wembley in their nostrils and when Nani flicked a superb pass through to Darren Fletcher inside the City box, the Scotland star had the awareness to lay a pass off to Carrick. The England midfielder does not score many, but he is an accurate striker of the ball and his shot was perfectly placed into the bottom corner with the aid of the post.If Rooney had tapped home Patrice Evra's cross when he was completely unmarked three minutes later, the tie would have been over. Inexplicably, he put it wide.
It was virtually certain Rooney would be made to pay almost instantly. After playing a pass out to Bellamy, Tevez continued his run and somehow managed to squeeze the ball beyond Van der Sar from the most unlikely angle.
United could feel aggrieved but relief should have arrived 10 minutes from time when Vincent Kompany's block offered Carrick a second chance. On this occasion though his snap shot flew wide.
But Rooney still had one more trick up his sleeve. And with it came a very large slice of humble pie for Garry Cook, with the City chief executive having been bullish of reaching the final on a trip to New York last week.