Manchester Utd 0 Tottenham H 0 (aet) (Man Utd win 4-1 on pens) TOTTENHAM S dreams of back-to-back Carling Cup triumphs ended in heartbreak on Sunday when they were beaten 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out by Manchester United, writes PATRICK MOONEY. For the se

Manchester Utd 0

Tottenham H 0 (aet)

(Man Utd win 4-1 on pens)

TOTTENHAM'S dreams of back-to-back Carling Cup triumphs ended in heartbreak on Sunday when they were beaten 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out by Manchester United, writes PATRICK MOONEY.

For the second year in a row, Spurs faced top four opposition and in a tense clash neither side could break the deadlock in 120 minutes of football.

But this time, there was to be no glory as the Jamie O'Hara and David Bentley failed with their spot kicks, while United netted all of theirs for the trophy.

Yet, Harry Redknapp will be encouraged with the display as he turns his full attentions to securing the club's Premier League status. Redknapp was forced to play Ledley King - Jonathan Woodgate picked up an Achilles injury in training - and he opted to play both Darren Bent Roman Pavlyuchenko, up front.

But clear-cut chances were few and far between. Aaron Lennon's pace continually troubled Patrice Evra and the winger went closest to a Spurs winner, forcing Ben Foster into a terrific parry 20 minutes from time.

At the other end Heurelho Gomes was rarely troubled - he did well to deny Nani in the first half - while King was lucky not have conceded a penalty when he tripped Ronaldo, who was wrongly booked for diving.

The world player of the year almost won it for United in the dying seconds, hitting a post with Gomes well beaten. Spurs' best chance in extra time fell to Bent but Foster saved United's blushes with his legs.

In the shoot-out Gomes failed to save any of United's four spot-kicks while Foster set the tone by brilliantly beating out Jamie O'Hara's first kick.

Vedran Corluka held his nerve to score Spurs' second but when Bentley dragged his kick wide of the goal, Anderson settled the outcome by sending Gomes the wrong way.

And having been knocked out the Uefa Cup after last Thursday's 1-1 second leg draw with Shakhtar Donetsk Spurs now can really concentrate on the league.

SPURS MAN OF THE MATCH: Aaron Lennon. His pace gave Patrice Evra all kinds of problems.

Team: Gomes 7, Corluka 7, Assou-Ekotto 7, Dawson 7, King 7, Zokora 7, Jenas 7 (Bale 6, 98), Modric 8, Lennon 8 (Bentley 5 102), Bent 7, Pavlyuchenko 5 (O'Hara 7).

Not used: Alnwick, Huddlestone, Gunter Taarabt.

Att: 88,217