United through to League Cup Semis Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Ronaldo started vs Birmingham
Manchester United won 3-1 at Birmingham City to reach the League Cup semi-finals on Tuesday.
Two goals for Louis Saha and one for Park Ji-sung gave United their comfortable success and a place in the last four for the second successive season, while two for Jason Roberts late in the first half sent Wigan into their first major semi-final in their first season in top flight football.
United, out of Europe and nine points adrift of Chelsea in the Premiership, fielded a strong side in a competition that has suddenly become an important part of their season.
They started well and Giuseppe Rossi hit the bar in an early attack but Birmingham settled and held their own until halftime.
It all changed at the start of the second half, with the introduction of Wayne Rooney adding spark to the United attack.
The goals came from less familiar sources, however. Injury-ravaged French striker Saha slid in to convert a Cristiano Ronaldo cross two minutes after the restart and then turned provider as he set up Korea midfielder Park to shoot home his first goal for the club.
Saha, whose season began a month ago following a string of injuries, then smashed in the third in the 63 minute before Jiri Jarosik headed a consolation for Birmingham in the 75th.
"I'm satisfied, I thought we played well," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports TV.
"I'm delighted for Park, he's been ever so close a few times and he deserved it."
Looking ahead to the semi-finals of a competition United have won only once, the Scot added: When the opportunity is there you must take it.
"Last year I thought we were very unlucky against Chelsea. It depends on where we are, which team I will play in January, but we will certainly give it a good shot."
