29 January 2010 / AP, LONDON
Defending champion Manchester United overcame archrival Manchester City to reach the League Cup final, but was toppled from the English Premier League summit by Chelsea on Wednesday.
Wayne Rooney’s 21st goal of the season in stoppage time prevented the Manchester derby going into extra time, and clinched a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford to send United through 4-3 on aggregate. United will play Aston Villa in the Feb. 28 final. Big-spending City has not contested a final since 1981. In London, Frank Lampard scored twice as Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory over Birmingham to go a point ahead of United in the title race. Arsenal was a further point adrift in third after being held to 0-0 at seventh-place Villa, which moved four points clear of crosstown rival Birmingham. Blackburn continued its rise up the standings, with a 2-1 victory over Wigan putting the team seven points clear of the relegation zone in 11th.
