By Chris O'Brien
December 21 2005

Manchester United booked their ticket to the League Cup semi-finals with a comfortable 3-1 win over Steve Bruce's Birmingham City. After a goalless opening half, a brace from Louis Saha and a Park Ji-Sung strike proved more than enough for the Red Devils.

Louis Saha returned to form with a superb brace as Manchester United charged into the semi-finals of the Carling-sponsored League Cup with a 3-1 demolition of Birmingham City. The Frenchman has suffered with a series of frustrating injuries that have threatened a New year departure from Old Trafford. However, the forward was on fine form in this quarter-final tie with two second-half goals as United secured a second win in the Midlands in the space of four days.

Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a strong side with the competition now an important trophy in United's season. With Chelsea nine points clear in the Premiership and the European dream over on the wrong side of Christmas, supporters are desperate for the club to secure only its second League Cup crown. Ferguson's intentions were clear naming a team full of first-team regulars and a formidable substitutes bench that lined-up against a Birmingham side that includes former Red Nicky Butt.

The first-half was largely an even contest. 18-year-old Guiseppe Rossi was quickly into the action, thundering a shot onto the woodwork as United searched for an early goal but the hosts matched the favourites, using target man Emile Heskey to cause problems. Howard did well to deny the former Liverpool forward as Birmingham sent long-balls forward in search of the Englishman.

With United lacking an element of impetus up-front, Ferguson opted to withdraw the inexperienced Rossi at the interval for the on-form Wayne Rooney. However, it was Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha who linked up superbly to give the Red Devils the lead only 60 seconds into the second-half. The Portuguese star charged down the right flank and fed in Saha with a neat cross and the ball was powerfully driven passed a helpless Maik Taylor. From here, there never looked a way back for United.

Manchester City netted three goals in 40 minutes passed Steve Bruce's struggling Birmingham on the weekend. United outdid their arch-rivals finding themselves three goals to the good within a quarter-of-an-hour of the restart with the St.Andrews outfit again looking frail in defence. The impressive Park Ji-Sung doubled the advantage only four minutes after Saha's opener, taking advantage of some lazy defending from the Blues to lash home a lose ball to score his first goal as a Manchester United player.

The initiative was clearly with United as the midfield pushed forward and a vulnerable Birmingham backline was forced to deal with wave after wave of pressure. The result was put beyond doubt when Saha, hardworking throughout, ran onto a pass from Gary Neville and sent a looping shot over Taylor and into the back of the net. It was a superb goal that capped a fine performance from the former Fulham striker.

Sitting second bottom of the Premiership, you would have expected Birmingham to keel over with the game clearly out of reach. However, Birmingham continued to battle and Jiri Jarosik gave them a glimmer of hope on 75 minutes as he headed home a Jermaine Pennant free-kick. Howard then found himself tested by substitute Mikael Forssell but there was no way back into the game for the Brummies who continue to disappoint.

Wigan's win over Bolton means half the semi-final places have now been filled. Doncaster Rovers host Arsenal with Middlesbrough entertaining Blackburn Rovers as United roll into the two-legged last four. Another excellent win; three on the bounce!

Full Time - Birmingham City 1-3 Manchester United
Attendance - 20,454

Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, Johnson, Martin Taylor, Upson, Painter, Pennant, Butt (Clapham 67), Clemence, Dunn (Kilkenny 66), Heskey (Forssell 82), Jarosik.
Substitutes Not Used: Doyle, Pandiani.

Manchester United: Howard, Neville, Brown, Silvestre (Ferdinand 60), Richardson, Ronaldo, O'Shea (Jones 66), Fletcher, Park, Rossi (Rooney 45), Saha.
Substitutes Not Used: Van der Sar, Bardsley.