[ENGLAND] Third-string goalie Ben Foster was the hero as Manchester United beat defending champion Tottenham Hotspur, 4-1, on penalties Sunday to win the English League Cup, its second trophy of the season.

After the match ended 0-0, Foster dived to his left to save Jamie O'Hara's penalty and David Bentley missed wide for Spurs.

With Liverpool's 2-0 loss to Middlesbrough, United is seven points ahead of the Reds and Chelsea with a game in hand. United is also still alive in the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, but Manager Alex Ferguson played down the talk of five titles.

"We will keep our feet on the ground," Ferguson told reporters. "That's just a media thing. We could go to Fulham next week [FA Cup quarterfinals] and a deflected shot goes in off someone's backside and we will be out of the FA Cup."

Ferguson singled out Foster for praise.

"Without Ben Foster, we would have lost today," Ferguson said. "He will be England's keeper for many seasons if he has a bit more luck with injuries."

In other action, Aston Villa missed a chance to go points clear of Arsenal in the race for a Champions League fourth slot when it blew a 2-0 lead over Stoke City in the final three minutes. Ryan Shawcross scored in the 87th minute, and Glenn Whelan earned Stoke a point in stoppage time.

Arsenal were booed off the field its 0-0 league draw at home against Fulham -- its fourth successive 0-0 tie.

Man U won the FIFA Club World Cup in December.