Gibson double delights United as Villa push past Pompey

Darron Gibson scored twice as reigning champions Manchester United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Old Trafford on Tuesday to secure their place in the semi-finals of the English League Cup.

In what was a repeat of last season’s final, which United won on penalties, Republic of Ireland midfielder Gibson struck twice from the edge of the box in the first-half to put United in control.

Anderson’s aggressive run in the 16th minute ended with him laying the ball into the path of Gibson, whose shot into the far corner past Heurelho Gomes gave him his fourth goal of the season.

The 22-year-old Gibson produced an even better finish seven minutes from half-time when, after playing a neat one-two with Danny Welbeck, he curled the ball past Gomes’s despairing dive.

Spurs created several chances but lacked a cutting edge up front.

In the day’s other all Premier League quarter-final, Aston Villa won 4-2 away to top-flight basement club Portsmouth.

Bottom of the top-flight Pompey went ahead through an own goal from Villa’s Stiliyan Petrov but Martin O’Neill’s men were in front before half-time thanks to goals from England duo Emile Heskey and James Milner.

Stewart Downing marked his first start for Villa by sealing the Midlands club’s win 16 minutes from time.

Substitute Nwankwo Kanu pulled a goal back for Pompey in the 87th minute but a minute from time Ashley Young scored Villa’s fourth.

The draw for the semi-finals will be made after Wednesday’s final last eight clashes, both all Premier League contests, between Blackburn and Chelsea and Manchester City and Arsenal.