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LEAGUE CUP: Tevez’s four-goal haul fires United into semis

Manchester United stormed into the League Cup semi-finals in style as Carlos Tevez’s four-goal haul earned a 5-3 victory over Blackburn on Wednesday.

Sir Alex Ferguson made 10 changes to the United team who won at Manchester City on Sunday, but they were still too strong for Rovers at Old Trafford.

Tevez was credited with the first goal nine minutes before the break, although Blackburn’s South African midfielder Aaron Mokoena was close to turning the ball into his own net.

Nani added a second goal five minutes before the interval from Tevez’s assist before South African forward Benni McCarthy pulled one back within two minutes of coming on as a half-time substitute.

Tevez grabbed his second from the spot in the 51st minute before completing his first hat-trick in English soccer by rounding off a move of real quality three minutes later.

Matt Derbyshire and McCarthy struck in the final minutes to set up a dramatic finale but Tevez eased United through with his fourth goal in stoppage time.

It may have been a second string side, but United were well worth their victory and Ferguson was also able to give Paul Scholes a run out as the midfielder continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

England goalkeeper Ben Foster had a couple of decent early touches as he pushed away Stephen Warnock’s header with just three minutes gone after Roque Santa Cruz and Derbyshire had flicked on Paul Robinson’s free-kick.

But soon United were in control, with Nani providing a constant threat on the left of United’s three-man attack.

The Portuguese blasted over and had another effort blocked on the edge of the box before Darron Gibson had a header cleared off the line by Martin Olsson after he had beaten Robinson from Ryan Giggs’ corner.

Foster did well to hold a Keith Treacy shot that skidded off the turf and was quick off his line to force Warnock to lift the ball well over the bar after the former Liverpool man latched on to Derbyshire’s lofted through-ball.

League Cup holders Tottenham showed no signs of wanting to relinquish their trophy as Darren Bent came off the bench to secure a 2-1 win over Watford.

Bent said afterward he was relieved to score Tottenham’s quarter-final winner, because it was too cold to play extra-time.

An additional 30 minutes of action was looming at Vicarage Road on Wednesday before England striker Bent, on as a substitute for Fraizer Campbell, struck with 14 minutes left to seal a 2-1 win for the holders.

Harry Redknapp’s team joined Manchester United, Burnley and Derby in the last four, but Bent was more concerned with getting warm in the dressing room.

“It was good to score but it was more about not staying out for another half an hour in the freezing cold,” Bent said.

After winning the trophy under Juande Ramos in February, Spurs are closing in on a repeat with their third successive appearance in the semi-finals.

The draw for the semi-finals takes place tomorrow.
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