The Red Devils came into this second-leg semi-final carrying a deficit, on aggregate, after having been defeated at Eastlands 2-1, January 19.

As expected, United started the game looking for an early goal, pressing forward at all opportunities, but they were faced with a challenge as City sat back and looked for the quick counter attack.

The first half ended scoreless despite several opportunities from both sides.

The second half started in “reverse fashion”, with City coming out all-guns blazing and Micah Richards forcing a save from Van der Sar with a left-footed drive. Then, on 50 minutes, came the Craig Bellamy incident. City had earned a corner-kick, but when Bellamy went to take it, the fans began throwing things at him. The Welshman was ultimately not seriously injured by the coin that struck him soundly in the back of the head, but play was halted while order was restored. Van der Sar stepped in to shield the striker while cleaning up the debris, and glowering at the fans. The repercussions of this violence will undoubtedly be stiff financial penalties levied against the club, but the positive outcome is that the bottles that were hurled missed their mark and Bellamy was ultimately able to continue play.

In the 52nd minute, Giggs picked out Nani making a supporting run up the center. The Portuguese national worked his way into the box, but was stood-up by by the defense and the ball trickled slowly away from him. Carrick stepped in and poked the back toward Paul Scholes who buried the ball in the lower left corner. This brought the score to 2-2 on aggregate and while there would have still been Extra Time to play if the score held, Manchester would have avoided a penalty shootout because of the “away goal” rule.

United looked to avoid Extra Time, winning it outright, by making it 2-0 on 71 minutes (3-2 on aggregate). Michael Carrick latched on to a ball poked back by Fletcher just outside the six, and side-footed it into the bottom left.

Rooney, the top scorer on the team with 19 goals in 22 matches, missed a sitter when he put Patrice Evra’s low cross wide from close range, and it could have cost United dearly had they not ultimately gone on to win the match.

In the 76th minute, Tevez (who scored both of City’s goals in the first leg) pulled one back to level overall with an audacious flick as he spun around Ferdinand to send Bellamy’s cross into the bottom left. This gave City a precious away goal and meant extra time an penalties if the score held.

With nine minutes left, Carrick missed a great chance to put the cup tie to bed again, when he fired wide after the ball broke kindly to him near the penalty spot.

In stoppage time, Giggs picked out Rooney with a cross, who headed past Shay Given – rooted to his line – where the ball nestled into the left-hand side of the goal.

The Red Devils only had to hold the lead for about a minute and a half before the Full Time whistle blew, which they did.

United will now compete against Aston Villa in the final at Wembley Stadium on February 28.

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