Manchester United won the Carling Cup 4-1 on penalties against former holders Tottenham Hotspur after 120 goalless minutes at Wembley.
Jamie O'Hara's spot-kick was saved by Ben Foster and David Bentley missed his, while all four United takers converted - Anderson's cool finish delivering the first part of a possible quadruple for Alex Ferguson's men.
United's delight proved there is still a place for the League Cup in an increasingly congested football calendar.
It may not have been the greatest game, or the most important prize, but football is above all about trophies and the two sides' contrasting emotions demonstrated the great divide between joy and despair that comes with the penalty shoot-out.
Fergie made good on his promise to stick with the players who helped United reach the final, as Danny Welbeck, Darron Gibson and Ben Foster all started.
On the hour mark, Carlos Tevez nearly broke the deadlock with an instinctive back flick from a wayward Jonny Evans shot, but sent the ball just wide.
Then controversy reigned as Ledley King appeared to foul Ronaldo in the Spurs box, but the Manchester United man was instead booked for diving.
If that was harsh on United, it perhaps offset Chris Foy's decision not to show John O'Shea a second yellow card for a clumsy, late foul on Luka Modric.
Then Lennon squandered Tottenham's best opportunity, collecting the ball on the right side of the box but seeing the impressive Foster push the ball to safety.
From that point, extra time looked a certainty until Ronaldo - with 20 seconds of stoppage time left - jinked inside from the right and hit a savage left-foot shot.
Wembley stood still, but the ball came back off the inside of the right-hand post and Nani sent the rebound wide.
The extra half-hour produced few moments of quality, with both sides sapped of energy. Only Bent's shot at Foster troubled either keeper and penalties duly followed.
Its shootout time and Ryan Giggs, Tevez, Ronaldo and Anderson all converted for United - Vedran Corluka was Tottenham's only successful taker.
Ben Foster is the Man of The Match,saving spotkicks taken by Jamie O'Hara.
TEAM LINEUPS
-
Manchester UnitedManager: Alex Ferguson
Captain: Rio Ferdinand
Starting line-up
- B. Foster
- J. O'Shea
- J. Evans
- R. Ferdinand
- P. Evra
- C. Ronaldo
- P. Scholes
- D. Gibson
- .. Nani
- D. Welbeck
- C. Tevez
Subs
- R. Giggs
90′ - T. Kuszczak
- J. Park
- N. Vidic 76′
- O. Anderson 56′
- R. Possebon
- R. Eckersley
Injured
- O. Hargreaves
-
Tottenham HotspurManager: Harry Redknapp
Captain: Ledley King
Starting line-up
- H. Gomes
- V. Corluka
- M. Dawson
- L. King
- B. Assou-Ekotto
- A. Lennon
- D. Zokora
- J. Jenas
- L. Modric
- D. Bent
- R. Pavlyuchenko
Subs
- D. Bentley 102′
- B. Alnwick
- T. Huddlestone
- J. O'Hara 65′
- A. Taarabt
- G. Bale 99′
- C. Gunter
Injured
- J. Woodgate
- J. Defoe
- A. Hutton
Penalty Kick Takers
Manchester United
Ryan Giggs
Carlos Tevez
Cristiano Ronaldo
Anderson De Oliveira
Tottenham Hotspurs
Jamie O'Hara
Vedran Corluka
David Bentley
(Saved and Misses in Bold)
Posts
