LONDON: Defending champion Manchester United overcame archrival Manchester City to reach the League Cup final, but were toppled from the English Premier League summit by Chelsea.

Wayne Rooney’s 21st goal of the season in stoppage time prevented the Manchester derby going into extra time, and clinched a 3-1 win at Old Trafford to send United through 4-3 on aggregate. United will play Aston Villa in the February 28 final.

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 were a further point adrift in third after being held to 0-0 at seventh-place Villa, who moved four points clear of crosstown rival Birmingham.

The focus of the night was on England’s second-tier knockout competition, and second-half goals from Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick looked to have clinched a spot in the final for Ferguson’s side after overturning the 2-1 first-leg deficit.

Carrick prodded the ball back for Scholes to drive a shot into the net in the 52nd. And Nani flicked a pass through to Darren Fletcher inside the City box and the midfielder passed to Carrick, who placed his shot in the bottom corner with the aid of the post in the 71st.

But Carlos Tevez volleyed past former United teammate Edwin van der Sar six minutes later to level the semi-final at 3-3 on aggregate. With away goals not counting until extra time, another 30 minutes was looming until Rooney headed past Shay Given in the second minute of stoppage time.