CARLITO'S WAY ... Tevez celebrates
CARLOS TEVEZ showed Alex Ferguson what he's missing by firing two goals to hand Manchester City a vital Carling Cup advantage.
United boss Fergie refused to pay £25million for the Argentine last summer — and the striker proved why the Scot was wrong to let him leave Old Trafford with a super show.
The 25-year-old hitman smashed a 40th minute penalty to level the tie after Ryan Giggs' early strike had given the visitors the advantage in this semi-final clash.
Tevez hit his second — and his 17th goal of the season — just after the hour mark to underline his status as one of the Premier League's top marksman.
United had taken an early lead when Giggs stroked home from close range with just 16 minutes on the clock.
Antonio Valencia beat Craig Bellamy on the right flank and teased in a cross which Wayne Rooney flicked on before the Welshman poked home.
Tevez should have levelled when he got in front of Rafael to get his head on Shaun Wright-Phillips' inviting cross.
But the Argentina ace could not keep his effort on target and it bounced away harmlessly for Edwin Van der Sar to gather.
The Dutchman got a firm punch to Bellamy's corner and after the Welshman again received possession, MicahRichards' header cannoned into debutant Dedryck Boyata, taking all the sting out of it.
Michael Carrick blazed a long-range effort well over before Bellamy scorched 50 yards downfield, only to be blocked off by Rafael.
Nigel De Jong brought a decent one-handed save out of Van der Sar with a 30-yard piledriver before the moment City were desperate for arrived five minutes before half-time.
Yet again, Bellamy's pace caused the problem as Rafael found himself exposed.
The teenager had two tugs — both outside the area — but he was still holding on as Bellamy entered the box and referee Mike Dean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Van der Sar employed delaying tactics — at the cost of a yellow card — but Tevez was not to be denied and he rammed the ball home before wheeling away to celebrate.
He gestured towards substitute Gary Neville — indicating what he thought of the United captain's assertion that Alex Ferguson had been right to sell him in the summer.
Rooney was presented with an excellent chance right at the start of the second period.
Yet again, though, Shay Given came out on top and City survived their scare.
Valencia fouled Tevez to give Javier Garrido the chance to curl a free-kick into the visitors' box.
Vincent Kompany got up highest but could not keep his effort on target.
Successive corners for United ended in nothing more than a Wright-Phillips counter-attack, then Gareth Barry cost his side a decent attacking opportunity when he fouled Darren Fletcher.
Patrice Evra made two decisive interventions as Bellamy's corner fizzed across the box, the initial clearance offering Richards the chance to launch an acrobatic effort goalwards which the Frenchman turned away.
De Jong fired wide as City maintained their offensive.
Given produced yet another fine block to turn away Giggs' far-post header after Rooney had delivered the cross.
Rooney then made space for himself on the edge of the area but curled his shot over.
City were much more of a threat, though, and when Van der Sar only half-cleared Bellamy's corner, Pablo Zabaleta's off-target effort was turned back into the danger area by Kompany and Tevez was on hand to head home.
This time he immediately raced to the home dug-out and cupped his ears, in exactly the same manner he did when he scored for United in a Premier League meeting between these two sides late last season when the crowd's demand for him to stay at Old Trafford was at its peak.
Despite a late United bombardment, City's backline held firm to gain the advantage ahead of next week's return at Old Trafford.
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