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Four-star Tevez fires United past Blackburn in to semis

03/12/2008

Carlos Tevez made the most of a rare start for Manchester United to fire them to a 5-3 win over Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

Tevez has been struggling to break into the first team recently but he found excellent form against a hapless Rovers side, though to their credit Paul Ince's side never game up and twice mounted a comeback.

Although Old Trafford was half empty, those who did turn out were treated to a goal fest as Tevez ran the Rovers defence ragged.

Blackburn's Stephen Warnock had a shot which forced United goalkeeper Ben Foster to tip over early on but after that the home side dominated.

Tevez threatened to break the deadlock midway through the first half but his shot from the edge of the box fizzed over the bar.

However, five minutes later he did manage to find the back of the net. Ryan Giggs placed an impeccable cross into the area and the Argentinean rose above Aaron Mokoena to head home.

Blackburn continued to show glimpses of what they were capable of when Roque Santa Cruz headed just wide. But they were made to pay for their errors as United continued to create chances.

Nani made it 2-0 before half time when Tevez laid the ball on for the Portuguese to smash past Paul Robinson.

Benni McCarthy came on at the break and had an instant impact. He out-fought Gary Neville for the ball and fired past Foster to bring Rovers to within a goal.

But as soon as they had got back into the match Tevez restored United's advantage. The striker was brought down by Martin Olsson inside the box before stepping up to slot home the penalty himself.

Three minutes later he bagged his hat-trick. Giggs scythed his way through the Rovers defence before feeding Anderson. He could have shot himself but instead passed to Tevez who tapped home.

However, Blackburn were not finished and Matt Derbyshire pulled a goal back with six minutes to play.

United may not have been worried by that goal but McCarthy's strike that brought it back to 4-3 in the 90th minute ensured a frantic end to the match.

But Tevez calmed any nerves when he smashed in his fourth of the night from the edge of the box.

United will be in that hat for the semi-final draw alongside Tottenham, Burnley and Derby County.