MANCHESTER CITY: Carlos Tevez, whose move across Manchester was the source of so much controversy, made the difference as Manchester City claimed a 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the rivals’

League Cup semi-final first leg here on Tuesday.Ryan Giggs’s first derby goal since 1996 handed

United the lead but Tevez, whose decision to reject United and sign for their wealthy neighbours in the close season was accompanied by such ill feeling, scored twice, taking his tally to 13 goals from his last 11 games.

Tevez was always destined to play a pivotal role in this semi-final, one way or another. Sure enough, when Craig Bellamy was held back by badly beaten United full-back Rafael five minutes before the interval, it was the Argentinian forward who was handed the responsibility of converting from the penalty spot, one he gleefully accepted with an emphatic finish.

Tevez’s gesture to former teammate Gary Neville, sat

in his customary position on the United bench, told the defender to be silent and was sweet revenge for the City man having endured a half of baiting and

abuse from visiting supporters. The penalty cancelled out Giggs’s early opening goal, which came from United’s first attack of note.

The second half winner was vintage Tevez although it was again the result of poor defending from United. Craig Bellamy’s 64th minute cross from the left-wing caused panic in the visiting defence following a weak punched clearance from Edwin van der Sar. Pablo Zabaleta did a good job of keeping the ball live, chipping back into the area for Kompany to cross and find Tevez who headed in from close range.

The overwrought pre-match build-up from Manchester City was perhaps

understandable. Since they last appeared in a major semi-final, of the 1981 FA Cup, a total of 54 different league clubs have reached the last four of one or other of the two major domestic knockout competitions.

United seemed in the mood to ruin City’s

planned party but City’s response to falling behind was spirited with Shaun Wright-Phillips steaming to the right-hand by-line, delivering a perfect cross with which the Argentine forward failed to connect from six yards.

United started the second half the brighter, looking to regain control of the tie, but their failure to deal with City’s corners was increasingly apparent, starting, in the 57th minute, when Evra had to make a timely block to stop Micah Richards shooting in following a Bellamy flag kick.

United responded, with Rooney crossing for Giggs whose header drew an

amazing save from Shay Given, falling backwards and

almost in his own net, and

the England forward then sending a dipping shot rising over the bar from distance. But, after conceding the second, things might have got worse for United with van der Sar being forced into a solid, diving save to keep out a Wright-Phillips blast following a neat pass into the area from Bellamy.