Manchester United's Darron Gibson, right, fights for the ball against Tottenham's Jermine Jenas during their English League Cup soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Tuesday December 1, 2009. Photo by AP.
Man United midfielder Darron Gibson struck twice in the first half in a rematch of last season's final that was won by United in a penalty shootout. "It was a good team performance following last week. We bounced back and the young lads did well," Gibson said.
"We didn't go out to try and prove anything. Sometimes you have bad days and today was a good day."
Anderson was the creator of the 17th-minute opening goal, surging forward before cutting inside to lay the ball into the path of Gibson, whose low shot crept into the corner of the net.
The second came at the end of a flowing move started by Park Ji-sung and continued by Dimitar Berbatov, who picked out Welbeck and played a one-two with Gibson. The Northern Ireland midfielder struck high into the net from the edge of the area.
"The movement and working off the ball was good - and a terrific finish," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "Gibson and Anderson did very well in the middle of the park. We're two games away from Wembley, that's good. We'll enjoy the semifinal and these lads will play again."
At Fratton Park, Portsmouth took the lead in the 10th when Villa's Stiliyan Petrov sliced a corner into his own net, but the visitors replied immediately through Emile Heskey.
England winger James Milner struck in the 27th and Stewart Downing added a third goal on his first Villa start in the 74th. Kanu gave Villa a late scare by pulling one back, but Ashley Young made sure of victory with a fourth goal to send Martin O'Neill's side through.
In the remaining quarterfinal matches on Wednesday, Manchester City hosts Arsenal and Chelsea is at Blackburn.
