Blackburn Rovers vs Manchester United, 2nd Leg Manchester United win 4-2 on aggregate
Who won: Man United 3-1
Manchester United beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 in 2nd Leg Manchester United win 4-2 on aggregate on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at Ewood Park. Goals for Blackburn: Andrew Cole (12'). Goals for Man United: Paul Scholes (30', 42') and Ruud van Nistelrooy (77' pen).
Play by play
- 90'
Yet again the Red Devils were unphased after going a goal down, maintaining their high-tempo passing game and reaping the rewards with two well-taken goals from Scholes before the break, before Van Nistelrooy's penalty clincher
- 90'
A shambolic tussle on the deck between Neville and Thompson and that's it for this semi-final. United are well worth their 3-1 victory, taking them into the final 4-2 on aggregate
- 90'
Forlan battles past two defenders to get a shot in after Beckham's long ball. Friedel is sharp again to save one-handed and claw the ball back into his grasp
- 89'
Home supporters streaming out of Ewood Park now - they know their team's defence of the Worthington Cup is over
- 88'
Neville gets past the tiring McEveley. Forlan's at the near post but guides his low side-footer wide of Friedel's left post
- 87'
Offside against Flitcroft as the Blackburn skipper makes a charge into the box
- 85'
Neill pushes forward on the right, crossing for Thompson to swing a boot at it first-time from the edge of the box - but poorly struck and Barthez is unworried
- 84'
Forlan replaces Van Nistelrooy, who has looked sharp tonight
- 83'
Thompson's frustrations get the better of him as he takes Neville's legs clean away with a rash tackle from behind in midfield
- 82'
United work the ball around, before Veron makes a fool of himself, miscontrolling as he tries to fool Taylor in the box
- 81'
United heap on the pressure as Todd has to clear under pressure from Neville
- 79'
More cause for the visitors to celebrate as Nicky Butt makes his first-team return as Scholes' replacement
- 79'
Another emphatic penalty for the Dutchman and United are surely through to a final meeting with their friends from Liverpool
- 78'
Ref Winter is more than lenient on Friedel, who only get a yellow card. There was no-one else around. But Van Nistelrooy is unfussed, stepping up to sweep the spot-kick home. 3-1 United!
- 77'
A ball over the top and suddenly Van Nistelrooy is clean through, beating the last man before tumbling under Friedel's challenge. Penalty!
- 75'
...and win another corner on the right. Beckham heads half clear but Thompson can cross again. Yorke's lurking but United scramble away
- 74'
Beckham's pass falls a little short for Giggs' run into the box. Rovers can clear
- 73'
United sitting deep at the moment, rather inviting pressure. Yorke tries to turn in the box but Beckham and a host of red shirts close in
- 72'
Neville heads behind under little pressure. Souness urges his big men, Todd and Taylor, forward but Thompson's corner delivery goes over the bar
- 71'
This time Gillespie finds Cole wide on the right. A decent cross but Barthez is first to meet it
- 70'
Tugay finds Cole on the Rovers left but Keane is across to interrupt
- 69'
It's increasingly forlorn for Rovers, 3-2 down on aggregate. They need one goal to take it into extra-time but United are looking far likelier
- 67'
Yorke is up to head Beckham's corner and Rovers hoof it away
- 66'
More good work from Giggs, this time centrally. He finds Veron on the left before moving into the box to hook the Argentinian's cross at goal. Agonisingly close but Friedel does just enough to guide the ball around the post
- 65'
Giggs goes off on a marauding run. He pauses, awaiting support which arrives in the form of Keane, who delivers a powerful low drive that Friedel again does well to block one-handed before gathering
