Manchester United hit Wigan with a devastating second-half goal salvo to win the League Cup for the second time.

Rooney_79586.shtml'>Wayne Rooney cashed in on confusion between Arjan De Zeeuw and Pascal Chimbonda to fire United ahead.

Gary Neville crossed for Louis Saha to score United's second before Stephane Henchoz gifted the ball to Saha to set Cristiano Ronaldo up for their third.

Rooney rounded off a blitz of three goals in seven minutes to ensure United will end the season with a trophy.

In the opening seconds Gary Teale outstripped Mikael Silvestre to whip in a cross which Senegalese striker Henri Camara headed wide when well-placed, setting the template for an action-packed game.

There were only three minutes gone when Wigan keeper Mike Pollitt clutched his hamstring after innocuously fielding a ball and was clearly in trouble.

With replacement keeper John Filan warming up, Rooney thumped a header against the Wigan bar.

Rooney was in ebullient mood and was the driving force as United applied the early pressure.

Rooney coolly slots home Man Utd's opener

United were finding too much space for Wigan's liking and with Ronaldo at his mercurial slick-footed best, De Zeeuw and Henchoz were at full stretch in the heart of the Latics' defence.

There was little finesse about United's opening goal, inevitably scored by Rooney.

Edwin Van der Sar's long punt downfield was flicked on by Saha - and De Zeeuw and Chimbonda collided to leave Rooney with a clear run on goal to slot clinically past Filan.

But Wigan showed the spirit which has typified their first season in the Premiership and Jason Roberts tricked his way past Neville and Wes Brown did superbly to head clear as Paul Scharner closed in.

Wigan carried the game to United at the start of the second half and Camara showed skill and pace to beat Rio Ferdinand but Van der Sar got his angles right to beat the shot away.

But just as Wigan were pressing for an equaliser, United struck a mortal blow to their hopes with a second goal.


Graham Kavanagh and Stephane Henchoz know the game is up

Ryan Giggs picked his way past a couple of tackles in midfield before sweeping a pass out to Ronaldo, who in turn laid the ball into Neville's overlapping run.

Neville's cross was met by Saha and although Filan saved his first effort, the Frenchman converted at the second attempt.

United effectively killed the game off two minutes later when Henchoz gifted the ball to Saha who slid a pass for Ronaldo to fire a shot across Filan.

A rampant United made it three goals in seven minutes when Giggs' free-kick was won initially by Saha, and then Ferdinand headed the ball goalwards for Rooney to spin and tuck away his second goal.

Although Wigan were staring at an act of damage-limitation, they went searching for a consolation but found United's defence in a mean-spirited mood.

Well done United, im happy Sir Alex has managed to get another trophy in his 20th year as manager!

I'm well pleased we have a trophy this season . I thought it was a good game and Wigan gave Utd a good run in the first half , they lost the cup I think just after the break when they had a chance to draw level. I felt a little sad for the Wigan keeper didn't even make it into double figures on time , such a shame for him. The 4 goals where taken good , a pity Rooney didn't get a hattrick and well surprised Van Nistlerooy didn't get on . It was a nice gesture that the entire team wore ' For You Smudger ' t-shirts .

WELL HAPPY

I could only listen to game on radio, sounded boring so I stuck with the Ireland - Wales game.

The most important thing is.. Did they get to wear the Mickey Mouse jumpers, when lifting his cup?

Its the 4th most important trophy, but its still a trophy.Though I could tell from wengers team selection in the second leg against wigan that he didn't want to get to the final anyway.

And what are you's gonna win [beep!] all! You aren't even gonna qualify for Europe next year!

COME ON UNITED! 4-0

Read the next thread down...........Who cares????

You's cared when it was all that had a hope of winning for about a decade! We had nothin else that we could win and anything is better than nothing. You's arent gonna get [beep!] all anyway and we are gonna finish 2nd!

Dude, take it easy. It's only a bit of banter. Don't be afraid of wearing your Mickey Mouse hats to celebrate... We won't laugh..

Too right we won't laugh honest lol oops i just laughed.....
you got to take the banter if you're gonna give it out dude

I seriously thought i would not care but i'm over the moon i love u Man Utd all u idiots would care if u was in it so glad smithy will get a cup medal yay

I cant say im delighted but its always good to win a trophy. It doesnt make our season a sucess but at least its something

Dont let them get to you ForeverUnited, there just snide cheapshots from supporters whos clubs arent going to achieve anything anytime soon, and the only way they can feel better is to undermine our clubs success.
Liverpool are gonna feel crap that theyve played about 100 games since july and have nothing to show for it, and as for Arsenal, theyre so far down the league rotherham fancy their chances of finishing above them
Weve won a trophy and can now focus totally on finishing the league in the best position possible.So let them laugh at our mickeymouse cup, well see whos laughing at the end of the season.

Well said Henize

I'd rather be sitting 1-0 up on aggregate at Highbury against the Galactico's in the K/O stage of the best club tournament around. Compared to, celebrating over a Mickey Mouse Cup that was fought out over by Wigan. We played our reserves who were available throughout the Carling Cup until the second leg of the semi-final where we won.

The likes of Henry would prefer to be playing the best teams/clubs in the world in the bigger competitions. Some people prefer different things though. All that is regardless of whether we're in Europe next year - One season missing won't bother our club name at all. I can guarantee we'll be straight back in contention the year after.

Although it was funny seeing Ruud sitting on the bench against Wigan in the Carling Cup final.

Well done on the win though.

lmao at heinze i honestly think Mr Ferguson would easy be wishing he was lying in 3rd place on the same amount of points and still be in the FA Cup and Champions League rather than winning a very laughable trophy

This thread is bloody hilarious.

Honestly, I don't have anything against the Carling Cup. I found solace in it a few years back. Hehehe.

I'm feeling lousy over it, but its down to Man Utd winning it more than the cup being laughable.

Its amazing how supporters are so different and expectations!

Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool supporters are taking the mick and what not out of each other over United winning the Carling Cup aka the mickey mouse cup.

2 years ago i was at Cardiff and i can remember it like yesterday! I've said it loads of times on this forum but it was the best day of my life so far absolutely unforgettable!

Boro had never won anything in 128 years then to win the Carling Cup it changed all of our lives and i no for certain you ask any boro fan who was at Cardiff that day they wont be able to describe how emotional that day was.

Every second smoggie was crying with joy, some just sat in their seat even afta the final whistle unable to move. 128 years waiting and now we'd done it.

My point is The Carling Cup is not a mickey mouse cup for the boro it changed boro, it will go down in history as the first major trophy we won, It gave us European football for the first time ever,it's the pride and joy of Middlesbrough FC. Why on earth is it different for Man Utd??

Ok theres countless FA Cups, League Titles, European Trophys etc. in the United Trophy Cabinet but at this time Man Utd havent won anything in 2 years now they've won the Carling Cup, the Rooney's, Ronaldo's, Park Ji-Sung's, Saha's etc. have never won a trophy with Man Utd some have never won a trophy before, surely this is a taster for more surely Fergie has also had a taste of succes again which he hasnt had for 2 years.

If Wigan won it all we would hear is "OH MY GOD WIGAN HAVE WON THE CARLING CUP ALL BOW DOWN TO WIGAN" Well Man Utd have won it and they deserve all the credit wigan would of got and winning it can only have a positive effect and boost confidence and morale.

Get Over it Gunners, Get Over it Scousers YOU'RE WINNING NOWT THIS YEAR

yes , that is the point senior , you hadnt won anything in 128 yrs . Man Utd , Arsenal and maybe Liverpool are used to winning major trophies . The Carling Cup is not considered a major trophy for these teams , it is better than nothing but when you are winning FA Cups , Premiership and Champions League trophys it is not rated as highly as the rest .

Yes obviously its not rated as highly as the rest but surely winning a trophy is better than not winning anything.

And i know for certain even if it was the bloody LDV Vans trophy that Cardiff is an unbelievable stadium, when them lights go out, the music, the atmosphere, the noise, the fireworks its a truly immense experience it gave me butterflies so i can't imagine what it must feel like for the players.

My point is this could of done wonders to United and their young players, it should drive them to want to win more etc.

You have a point there $enior. Just look at the smile on Rooney_79586.shtml'>Wayne Rooney's face when he held up the Man of the Match award.

As I've said before, I have nothing against the Carling Cup. It was the first trophy I saw Liverpool won as a fan. I wasn't a supporter yet when we won the FA Cup in 1992. So obviously I have fond memories of it as well. And yes, it will spur the players on despite being a Mickey Mouse Cup. I don't think Liverpool could have gone on to win the FA Cup and UEFA Cup in the same season if they didn't win the Carling Cup then. You get a feel of the feeling and you want it again and it Spurs you on.

I've also said before, somewhere in this Carling Cup forum, that most people don't care about the Carling Cup until they've won it - or have a chance to win it. I personally was rooting for Liverpool last season and was obviously disappointed to lose the Cup to Chelsea. The final was overshadowed by the Champions League win. But if we didn't win the Champions League, the loss in the final would probably hurt more than it would have now.

Hey, silver is silver, some silver is more prestigious than another, but it is still silver and Man U. should take some pride in what they have accomplished........and, this is from an Arsenal supporter!

Well call me greedy but I want United to win every competition they enter, otherwise whats the point in entering it (yes this is a further cheapshot at Arsenal, you can be in the competition, but it all counts for nothing unless you win it , do you think milan called their last season a success?I highly doubt it)

We all know it's just banter & general winding up. I'm not annoyed at Arsenal not winning the Carling Cup. Neither am I unhappy that Man Utd won it. Well done. Nice tin cup for your cabinet.

Sometimes it's our job to wind up & throw in some banter. Footballs not all competition. It's Sporting Entertainment. Well done Man Utd. Hope you have fun with the cup & the money you won. In fact, I love you Man Utd! Your so good for beating Wigan, congratulations!! Ronaldo, Wooney, the donkey on the bench.. ALL LEGENDS.. and well done!

Better?

I might as well keep it goin

Congratulations Arsenal on your triumph in the "Were one nil up in the first leg against madrid" Cup,it makes our Carling Cup look crap,im sure it look stunning when sat next to the:
"Were worse than Liverpool" Cup
"Were worse than Spurs" Cup
"Were worse than Blackburn and Bolton"Cup
"If were not careful well be worse than westham and wigan"Cup
"Sunderland will probably score more away goals than us"Cup

Im jealous to say the least

Ouch That was nice Heinze! You should post more often mate!