Manchester United downed Manchester City, 3-1, to advance to the the Carling Cup final with a 4-3 aggregate win. The hero was Wayne Rooney -- and not just because his stoppage-time goal that made the difference.

"In the first half Rooney foraged alone up front," writes Richard Williams, "ceaselessly searching for the long balls aimed from deep midfield and drawing an early save from Shay Given. Six minutes into the second half, after Micah Richards's run and shot had almost given City the lead, he changed the shape and mood of the [series] by driving a magnificent diagonal ball across from the left touchline to send [Ryan] Giggs on the run that led to [Paul] Scholes's strike. And finally, in stoppage time, the perfect timing of his run and header killed off City's hopes.

 

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