D Wednesday, December 2, 2009 METROSPORT 27 Man Utd: Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Vidic, De Laet, Park, Gibson, Anderson (Tosic 82), Obertan (Carrick 62), Welbeck, Berbatov (Macheda 62). Booked: De Laet, Gibson. Goals: Gibson 16, 38. Tottenham: Gomes, Hutton, Bassong, Dawson, Bale, Lennon, Jenas, Palacios (Huddlestone 46), Bentley, Defoe, Keane (Crouch 66). Booked: Hutton. Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear). MAN UNITED...........................2 TOTTENHAM...........................0 SIR ALEX Fergusons faith in his fringe players was justified last night as holders Manchester United eased into the Car- ling Cup semi-finals at Old Trafford. Uniteds second string lost 1-0 at home to Besiktas in the Champions League last week, a result which led to much criticism of the clubs younger players. But, led by two-goal Darron Gibson, United saw off Harry Redknapps men in a re-run of last years final. Spurs were hoping to win at Old Trafford for the first time in 19 years but found themselves two goals down at the break both courtesy of Gibson. United tied the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder to a new deal in the summer and he showed just why on 16 minutes when he picked up Andersons ball and fired home from 20 yards for his fourth United goal. Gibson extended the lead in the 38th minute, again striking from distance af- ter neat build-up play from Danny Wel- beck and Dimitar Berbatov. In between those strikes, Jermain De- foe and Robbie Keane had chances but on each occasion they were denied by superb Nemanja Vidic blocks. David Bentley went close after the break, but the wingers effort was well saved by Tomasz Kuszczak. And despite plenty of possession, Spurs just did not have the cutting edge to trouble United. No kidding around as Gibson sinks Spurs CARLING CUP QUARTER-FINALS Man United ... 2 Tottenham .... 0 Gibson 16, 38 Portsmouth .. 2 Aston Villa .... 4 Petrov og 10 Heskey 12 Kanu 87 Milner 27 Downing 74 A Young 89 COCA-COLA LEAGUE ONE Brentford ...... 1 Colchester .... 0 Brighton ........ 0 Charlton ........ 2 Bristol Rovers 1 Exeter ........... 0 Carlisle .......... 3 Hartlepool ..... 2 Huddersfield . 3 Tranmere ....... 3 Leyton Orient 3 Gillingham .... 1 Millwall .......... 3 MK Dons ....... 2 Oldham ......... 0 Leeds ............ 2 Southampton 1 Wycombe ..... 0 Southend ...... 0 Norwich ........ 3 Stockport ......P Swindon ........P Yeovil ............ 1 Walsall .......... 3 LEAGUE TWO Barnet ........... 1 Bournemouth 1 Bradford ....... 0 Rochdale ...... 3 Burton Alb .... 0 Accrington St 2 Dag & Red .... 2 Aldershot ...... 5 Lincoln .......... 1 Port Vale ....... 2 Morecambe .. 3 Bury .............. 0 Northampton 1 Hereford ....... 3 Notts County 4 Darlington ..... 0 Shrewsbury .. 2 Rotherham ... 0 Torquay ......... 3 Cheltenham .. 0 CELTIC manager Tony Mowbray admits qualification for the knockout stages of the Europa League would now be an unexpected bonus. The Hoops go into the penultimate game against Group C leaders Hapoel Tel Aviv at Parkhead tomorrow night bottom of the pool on two points, five behind second-placed Hamburg. Mowbrays men need to beat Hapoel and win at Rapid Vienna later in the month, while hoping the Bundesliga side lose both their remaining games. Mowbray, who cut a rather downbeat figure as he previewed the visit of the Israeli club, appeared to accept that it is an unlikely scenario. Asked if qualification would now be an unexpected bonus, he replied: Thats a fair comment. The focus is on winning the last two games and, for the bigger picture, just to keep winning football matches, keeping the confidence high and see where the season takes us. We will be as competitive as we have been in the other games and, if the opportunities come along, hopefully we will take them. Mowbray seeking Europa bonus SOCCER UEFA Europa League Group C Celtic v Hapoel Tel-Aviv............. 8.05 Hamburg v Rapid Vienna........... 8.05 Group I AEK Athens v Everton ............... 6.00 BATE v Benfica.......................... 6.00 Carling Cup Quarter-Finals Blackburn v Chelsea ................. 8.00 Man City v Arsenal .................... 7.45 Coca-Cola League Two Chesterfield v Crewe ................. 7.45 FIXTURES RESULTS EUROPA LEAGUESOCCER CARLING CUP Downing and out for Grants Pompey Off mark: Downings first for Villa LIONEL MESSI hailed his Ballon dOr success as a triumph for Barcelona after the Catalan side dominated the voting this year. The Argentina playmaker, 22, (pictured) beat last years winner Cristiano Ronaldo into second place in the poll for Europes footballer of the year. Messis Barca team- mate Xavi finished third, while his midfield partner Andres Iniesta was fourth and striker Samuel Etoo, a key part of the Barca team that won an unprecedented treble last season before moving to Inter Milan, was fifth. Messi said: To have the recognition of being the best player in the world is something special. Its also right that they recognised the efforts of Xavi, Andres and also Samuel. Its well- deserved there are so many players from Barca up there. Ballon dOr winner Messi praises Barca team-mates FORMER Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has defended Thierry Henry over his controversial handball against the Republic of Ireland and called for the use of goal line technology. With the Thierry Henry handball as an example, the fourth official should have a monitor, said Houllier (pictured). It would have saved Thierry a lot of abuse. Half of France thinks we should not be going to the World Cup. We could have been spared those sentiments if the fourth official had a monitor. And Houllier said he hopes Fifa do not punish Henry. Thierry is too honest a person to have done this immorally. It was not premeditated, he said. I dont think hell be punished and even if the goal had not been allowed, they [Ireland] would not have qualified. It would have gone to penalties. Houllier defends Henry over play-off handball STEWART DOWNING scored his first goal for Aston Villa last night to move Martin ONeills side into the last four of the Carling Cup. Emile Heskey, James Milner and Ashley Young also scored against the Premier Leagues bottom club after Stiliyan Petrov had put through his own goal to give the hosts a fortuitous lead. New manager Avram Grant, looking for his first win since replacing Paul Hart in the Pompey hotseat, saw his side get off to the perfect start as Bulgaria midfielder Petrov sliced the ball into his own net on ten minutes as he attempted to clear Danny Webbers corner kick. The lead, however, was short-lived as Villa levelled through Heskey two minutes later when the England striker coolly chipped Asmir Begovic. The goal lifted the visitors and they were ahead just before the half-hour as Milner unleashed a powerful drive into the far corner. The game looked over when Downing, making his first start for Villa since his summer move from Middlesbrough after a long lay-off through injury, headed home a third 16 minutes from time. However, a nervy finish looked on the cards as substitute Kanu pulled one back three minutes from the end before Young finally sealed Villas last-four spot. Portsmouth: Begovic, Vanden Borre, Kaboul, Ben- Haim, Hreidarsson, Yebda, Brown, Hughes 9 Wilson 85), Belhadj, Webber (Kanu 65), Utaka (Piquionne 76). Booked: Vanden Borre, Brown, Kaboul. Aston Villa: Guzan, L Young, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Agbonlahor, Heskey (Delfouneso 90), A Young. Booked: Milner, Agbonlahor. Referee: Lee Mason PORTSMOUTH.............................. 2 ASTON VILLA.................................. 4 BY CHRIS STOCKS Picture: Action Images Spurred into action: Gibson scores his and Uniteds second index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html