Tevez scoring against his former employers

Manchester City 2
- Tevez (pen) 42,
- Tevez 65

Manchester United 1
- Giggs 17



The match, all the same, held other ­stories that the victors will rejoice in retelling. They had, after all, come back from a goal down to attain this joy. It is much too soon to tell whether City have been transformed but Tevez is certainly in the midst of an astonishing spell.

Tevez, who controversially joined City last year in a move that has heightened the rivalry between the two clubs, wiped out United's early lead when he smashed home a 42nd-minute penalty.

Making a point: Carlos Tevez gestures towards the Manchester United bench after scoring against his former employers

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was delighted with Carlos Tevez after his brace saw off neighbours United in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg.The Blues take a 2-1 lead to Old Trafford after the former Reds striker levelled from the spot before nodding in a second-half winner at Eastlands.

United dominated much of the half after that but City, whose Italian manager Roberto Mancini was experiencing his first Manchester derby, equalised after a controversial call by referee Mike Dean.

Mancini acknowledged that United had "three or four good chances" to equalise and there was an element of good fortune attached to the penalty that was given against Rafael da Silva for ­pulling Craig Bellamy's arm. The first contact was outside the penalty area and Ferguson said: "It's there for everyone to see.

The victory has left Manchester City as "51% favourites" to reach the final, according to their manager, Roberto Mancini, but Ferguson was not too disconsolate as he reflected on his team's performance.

Until September 20, 2009, two teams have met 152 times. Manchester United recorded a higher advantage over Manchester City, which is 62 victories, 49 series and 41 loses.

Teams:

Manchester City:
Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Boyata, Garrido, De Jong, Kompany, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Bellamy


Manchester United:
Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Brown, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia, Rooney, Giggs