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發表於 2006-2-27 10:38 AM
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Reds Ease To Cup Final Victory
Carling Cup Final
Millennium Stadium, Sunday 26 Feb, 2006
Manchester United 4
Rooney (34, 63), Saha (58), Ronaldo (61)
Wigan Athletic 0
 
Sir Alex Ferguson collected the 25th trophy of his 19 year Old Trafford reign as United demolished Wigan Athletic, 4-0, in the Carling Cup final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
One-nil at the break thanks to Wayne Rooney’s 33rd minute strike United proceeded to take over the event in the second half with Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo finding the net before Rooney added his second of the game.
It all meant that this, the first final of the season, was done and dusted with little more than an hour played.
United dominated the game for long periods but Paul Jewell’s Wigan weren’t disgraced for until that early second half avalanche of goals they had remained well in contention.
This was the first major all-Greater Manchester final since the Metropolitan Boroughs took over from the Shire Counties in the mid-70s. United’s previous final against close neighbours was in 1958 when they met Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup final.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, as had been widely speculated, was missing from United’s starting line-up. The Reds top goalscorer was instead listed amongst the five nominated substitutes with Louis Saha being handed the responsibility of firing United to their second success in this competition. Saha, with five goals, was United’s top scorer in this season’s competition. Other than the omission of van Nistelrooy United were pretty well as expected.
Wigan Athletic, playing in their first major cup final, included Bolton-born and former United player Mike Pollitt in their side.
The roof of the Millennium Stadium was closed as the game got under way with United defending the South Stand goal, the end of the stadium where the bulk of their supporters were situated. There was a great atmosphere inside the arena as the game began with both teams wearing their normal colours.
Wigan delighted their fans when they chalked up the first serious attack of the contest, Gary Teale crossing neatly from the right for Henri Camara to head over.
A few minutes later and United were within inches of taking the lead. Gary Neville sending over a perfect right wing cross which Wayne Rooney met beautifully with his head. It looked all over a goal, but the ball thudded against the angle of crossbar and post.
Wigan were dealt a blow in the 14th minute when they were forced to replace keeper Pollitt with substitute John Filan. The Wigan keeper appeared to have picked up a leg injury earlier and had been given time to make a recovery before the change was made.
Rooney went on a terrific right wing charge in the 19th minute skipping past several Wigan defenders on a course which ended in the opposition penalty area. He then found Ronaldo with space and time but the United winger totally miscued his shot and it spun harmlessly away.
United were edging with some sweet moves which was giving the Wigan defence some uneasy moments, but Wigan weren’t looking overawed by the occasion and they were making sure that their travelling army of supporters had plenty to cheer.
However, in the 33rd minute it was United’s hordes who were on their feet acclaiming the opening goal. United had been threatening to take the lead and it was down to Rooney to strike the first blow with a great finish after making the most of confusion in the Wigan defence.
Wigan reacted positively to the setback moving forward purposefully on several occasions. They were showing great resolve and on the stroke of half time Jason Roberts had their fans roaring with a great display of determination which took him past Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville. Sadly, for the Wigan striker there was to be no end product.
Roberts’ strike partner Camara gave United a fright in the 51st minute with a cracking angled shot which Edwin van der Sar did well to parry. It was a spirited opening to the second half for Paul Jewell’s side, but their resurgence was to be shot lived.
Ten minutes into the second half and United’s hopes of lifting the Football League Cup for the second received a huge boost. Gary Neville provided the ammunition with neat little cross from the right and Saha claimed his 6th Carling Cup goal of the season from close range.
Wigan’s dreams of picking up their first major trophy were starting to wane, six minutes later they were in tatters after first Cristiano Ronaldo and the Rooney added further goals as United hit top gear and Wigan’s defence crumbled.
Sixteen minutes into the second half and this Carling Cup final was over bar the shouting. And there was plenty of that from the excited United supporters who were doing their level best to enjoy the occasion. It wasn’t the pinnacle of their ambition at the start of the season, but a trophy is a trophy and they were determined to celebrate in time honoured fashion.
Team Line-ups
Manchester United: Van der Sar; Neville, Ferdinand, Brown (Vidic 83), Silvestre (Evra 83); Ronaldo (Richardson 74), O’Shea, Giggs, Park; Rooney; Saha.
Substitutes: Howard, van Nistelrooy.
Wigan Athletic: Pollitt (Filan 14); Chimbonda, Henchoz (McCulloch 62), De Zeeuw, Baines; Teale, Kavanagh (Ziegler 72), Scharner, Bullard; Roberts, Camara.
Substitutes: Jackson, Johansson.
Attendance: 66,866 |
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