Birmingham 1 v 3 Manchester United
St Andrews, Birmingham
20th December 2005
Manchester United have progressed into the Semi Finals of the Carling Cup after a stunning 3 - 1 victory in Birmingham. Having triumphed over Aston Villa in the city just days before, United carried their luck over, and were unlucky to not be ahead at half time.
Rossi hit the cross-bar from close-range, Ronaldo went close, and Louis Saha was looking dangerous!
The team was made up from a mix of youngsters and more experienced professionals - Saha, Neville and Brown in the latter category, and Rossi, Richardson, Jones and Fletcher in the first.
It was only after the introduction of Wayne Rooney at half time that United started firing the goals in, although Rooney didn't actually play a major role in any of the goals.
For the first goal the credit was all Ronnys - he gallopped down the wing and was able to squeeze in a cross which Saha met at the back post and tapped home.
Four minutes later the tally was doubled when Park and Saha linked up well to send the Korean through into the Birmingham box. His left foot finish is worth watching on its own!
Finally, Saha booted the ball home from outside the box, and seemed to have got rid of the months of frustration that has surrounded him through his injury agony over recent months.
Birmingham got a consolation, but with Ronny whiling away the hours with his stepovers, tricks, back-heels, etc, Birmingham never really stood a chance.
United could meet one of Wigan, Arsenal or Doncaster, or Middlesbrough or Blackburn.
This is one trophy we can win.
Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Johnson, Martin Taylor, Upson, Painter, Pennant, Butt (Clapham 67), Clemence, Dunn (Kilkenny 66), Heskey (Forssell 82), Jarosik.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Pandiani.
Booked: Johnson.
Goals: Jarosik 75.
Man Utd: Howard, Neville, Brown, Silvestre (Ferdinand 60), Richardson, Ronaldo, O'Shea (Jones 66), Fletcher, Park, Rossi (Rooney 45), Saha.
