Two penalties change a game

United 4-2 Derby County (aggregate 4-3)
Carling Cup Semi-Final 2nd leg; attendance 73,374

Settle the match from biffadigital on Vimeo
It's a cold dark damp evening. It's not that bad, we're used to it. The bright lights, sat in a big crowd under a roof, what else would I be doing on a Tuesday night. United harried from the start, not letting Derby settle, they meant business. We got it. Nani scores on 17 minutes but I didn't see it clearly. I could make out John O'Shea at the far end for the second. The classic mistake of thinking someone is offside the Derby defence just stopped to check the linesman. Even managed to make out the third, a low header from Tevez.

Half time, and the notion that we could be out until 2230h watching extra time and penalties was dispelled. Cruising on the two goal cushion through the second half. Then Derby get a penalty award, get a goal, and it is now 3-2 on aggregate. Set it up for an interesting ten minutes. United didn't sit back put pressed for a fourth goal. That's the blurry video above of Tevez being fouled by Roy Carroll and Ronaldo taking the penalty after a long delay.

The very early door people who left 85 minutes would have missed all that. The people who left at 90 minutes would have missed a further goal from Derby. The ref only added 4 minutes stoppage time, I thought it should be over six with the substitutions and injuries. Maybe he wanted to get out of the rain.

So a Wembley final on a Sunday in March, thus another game in hand against Portsmouth at home to think about. Good job there is a big squad on the payroll to get through the extra games and injured players.