THE LEAGUE CUP has undergone something of a renaissance period over the the last ten years.
Once, under a different sponsor, it was branded the Worthless Cup by football fans, and the teams who aspired to win it were generally derided for chasing a cheap route into European football.
In fact, the only way you could win the cup and retain dignity was to send out the under 14′s and hope for the best.That all changed when Jose Mourinho came along.That greedy auld bugger wanted to win every trophy he set his magpie-ish eyes on. So, with Chelsea cruising towards the league title in 2005, the Carling Cup started to bubble up nicely.
It’s two-legged format makes the semi-final the most interesting stage of the competition. Suddenly English clubs are forced to adjust to playing a continental style; the ‘romance’ of a one-off cup tie was put aside for a more pragmatic approach in the away fixture. That was the plan anyway.
Here are our favourite semi-finals from the past decade.
2005 semi-final, second leg: Man Utd 1 – 2 Chelsea
This was the beginning of the competiitions revaluing. Though United’s powers were on the wane, they somehow held on for a first leg stalemate against the imperious Blues. So it all rested on the return fixture at Old Trafford.
It’s an extended highlights package, so unless you are keen to relive the glory of Claude Makelele, the goals start coming around the 4.30 mark.
YouTube credit: 2010landcruiser
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2004 semi-final, first leg: Bolton 5 – 2 Aston Villa.
Of course, Mourinho didn’t invent football (contrary to his Wikipedia page) and good matches existed before his arrival. Jay Jay Okocha was on his last legs in England, but he still managed to turn on the style here.
YouTube credit: angelaily
2011 semi-final, second leg: Birmingham 3 – 1 West Ham
Last year’s semi was a real humdinger too. With the help of an ultra funky backing track, Birmingham overcome a first leg deficit to win with a dramatic extra-time goal from Craig Gardener. The now-homesick Sunderland player’s strike was made all the more dramatic because he had already earlier been denied by the inside of the post - twice.
Third time’s a charm
YouTube Credit: zulublusue
2007 semi-final, first leg: Spurs 2 – 2 Arsenal
Julio Baptista had a big say in 2007. In the quarter final he scored four times as Arsenal beat liverpool 6-3 at Anfield.
In the next round he scored three at White Hart Lane; the first was an own goal which pushed Spurs into a 2-0 lead. He would later singled handedly pull the Gunners back into it and they went on to lose against Chelsea in Cardiff.
Spurs were not done, though. Almost exactly a year later they would exact sweet revenge with a 5-1, second leg victory down at the Lane.
YouTube credit: tarek17fnideq
2010 semi-final, second leg: Man Utd 3 – 1 Man City.
Carlos Tevez (remember him) was the star of the show across this tie. His brace goals at Eastlands gave City a 2-1 lead to protect as they travelled across town. Tevez would grab another to narrow United’s two goal lead. At 3-3 on aggregate the game was headed for extra time.
YouTube credit: ManUtdBot
2010 semi-final, second leg: Aston Villa 6 – 4 Blackburn.
If it’s goals you want, you’d do well to better 2010′s other semi-final. Villa took a 1-0 lead into their home fixture but soon found themselves trailing Blackburn by two Niko Kalinic goals. Those goals however, only woke the beast from it’s slumber and Rovers were forced to reap the whirlwind.
I agree Declan, as a Utd fan I’m ashamed to read that. Lifetime bans for toe rags like that! No club needs “supporters” of that kind!
I’m all for rivalry in football but there’s a line you don’t cross! Have some respect for the man, at the end of the day he’s still just a normal person with a family to go home to!
Red army Red army. Did you ever see the red army program they hand out. Last time I had a read of it was when Frank L mother passed away. The red army were abusein his celebration were he acknowledges his mother. Lovely fans.
I have no doubt there were idiots who would do such a thing, but don’t acting like 70,000 united fans were all at it!!! Chelsea have there idiots too, every club!!!
What about “that was all in the past” you had to say that about combat 18 didn’t you?? Stop being a hypocrite now.. In fact stop commenting on united posts anyway, you’re a typical ABU, know nothing of Manchester United, calling them frauds and what not, and then you go on about respect for mourinho and his team because of what he and they have won, united have won tonnes more, where’s your respect?? You are a very, very, sad man paul
Im sad . Emmmm ok. Should you not be supporting shamrock rovers or something. Ill support a football team in a different city and different country. Yes I am the sad one. Come on Kerry.
I support my local team, but what you don’t know is is that they are amateurs made up of the town folk, they are leagues below the league of Ireland!! And I’m from Kerry, so yeah ill shout for them all day
Up Kerry . Champions of Ireland . Im going to sit in boozer in London on Sunday in a Kerry jersey shouting at the t.v. Colm Cooper. Hes the messi of Gaa I believe.
Typical ABUs tarring all 74000 Utd fans at the game with the same brush. Every club has idiot knuckle draggers supporting them, it doesn’t mean every fan is an idiot knuckle dragger.
No but there were a couple of seasons where the wonderfully cultured supporters in Anfield took to defecating in a sandwich bag and dropping the contents on the united fans below, there are tossers following every club, bitch at them, not at the club or their support on mass.
Anfield Sunday? You should be ashamed to have the Dublin crest as your pic! Not that I’d be advocating supporting Dublin either….where’s your double now? Rebels here!
The only way Simply The Best is going to Anfield on Sunday is if he’s been saving his dole for the last few weeks!
Little waste of space troll is commenting on every story all morning trying to get at people!
I would say your mother must be proud of you, but the ironic thing is, with people like you, the fact that you can use a computer means she probably is!
@ The Score, is it possible to block accounts commenting on here? One person in particular is just trolling every United article that’s posted on here and it’s getting rather annoying…
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Obviously not acceptable. End of. United fan
I agree Declan, as a Utd fan I’m ashamed to read that. Lifetime bans for toe rags like that! No club needs “supporters” of that kind!
I’m all for rivalry in football but there’s a line you don’t cross! Have some respect for the man, at the end of the day he’s still just a normal person with a family to go home to!
Despicable behaviour but no real surprise either
I’d expect nothing more from a man united fan
I’m a Utd fan and I’d never ever imagine doing that! My parents brought me up with respect!
Nothing more than I would expect up in that filth hole. Man just doing his job.
Coming from a man whose clubs support has groups that affiliate with combat 18 that’s bordering on the ridiculous.
That was in the past. Watching to much football factory you are. Get a job
Got a job thank you very much and won’t watch films that glorify idiots and are full of talentless cockneys.
Oh and Chelsea fans are saints are they? Seriously, stop trolling at this stage, it’s pathetic, lie after lie after lie
Red army Red army. Did you ever see the red army program they hand out. Last time I had a read of it was when Frank L mother passed away. The red army were abusein his celebration were he acknowledges his mother. Lovely fans.
I have no doubt there were idiots who would do such a thing, but don’t acting like 70,000 united fans were all at it!!! Chelsea have there idiots too, every club!!!
Yes they do indeed leo. I was there during the 80s . Seen it. Filth is all them fans are.
What about “that was all in the past” you had to say that about combat 18 didn’t you?? Stop being a hypocrite now.. In fact stop commenting on united posts anyway, you’re a typical ABU, know nothing of Manchester United, calling them frauds and what not, and then you go on about respect for mourinho and his team because of what he and they have won, united have won tonnes more, where’s your respect?? You are a very, very, sad man paul
Im sad . Emmmm ok. Should you not be supporting shamrock rovers or something. Ill support a football team in a different city and different country. Yes I am the sad one. Come on Kerry.
I support my local team, but what you don’t know is is that they are amateurs made up of the town folk, they are leagues below the league of Ireland!! And I’m from Kerry, so yeah ill shout for them all day
Up Kerry . Champions of Ireland . Im going to sit in boozer in London on Sunday in a Kerry jersey shouting at the t.v. Colm Cooper. Hes the messi of Gaa I believe.
Typical ABUs tarring all 74000 Utd fans at the game with the same brush. Every club has idiot knuckle draggers supporting them, it doesn’t mean every fan is an idiot knuckle dragger.
Typical manure. Fergie the pri*k often went to man city/anfield/emirates and never had missiles thrown at him
Maybe he did and didn’t bitch and moan about it. It can’t have been serious, plastic cups no doubt.
Yeah because Liverpool fans always behaved in a exemplary fashion throughout their history, didnt they chris?
No but there were a couple of seasons where the wonderfully cultured supporters in Anfield took to defecating in a sandwich bag and dropping the contents on the united fans below, there are tossers following every club, bitch at them, not at the club or their support on mass.
At least no one died
I’m going to Anfield Sunday… If I get the chance I’ll be launching missiles at united players/fans
It’s football it happens
Anfield Sunday? You should be ashamed to have the Dublin crest as your pic! Not that I’d be advocating supporting Dublin either….where’s your double now? Rebels here!
The only way Simply The Best is going to Anfield on Sunday is if he’s been saving his dole for the last few weeks!
Little waste of space troll is commenting on every story all morning trying to get at people!
I would say your mother must be proud of you, but the ironic thing is, with people like you, the fact that you can use a computer means she probably is!
Simply the best was on another story earlier celebrating the serious injury of a Garda. He’s just a dirty little s(umb@g.
@ The Score, is it possible to block accounts commenting on here? One person in particular is just trolling every United article that’s posted on here and it’s getting rather annoying…
Selling drugs dosent count. Have a wash and get a job ya knack..