Tottenham Hotspur beat their deadly rivals Arsenal for the first time since 1999. When they finally beat them after so long, they not only beat them, but destroyed them, getting their biggest win over them since 1983 and progressing to the Final of the Carling Cup. Just 5 miles separate the two North London teams.
Tottenham will play Chelsea in the Final, who beat Everton yesterday in their Semi-Final, Second Leg. Chelsea hail from West Lodon, so this year's Carling Cup Final will only be the second all-London Carling Cup Final ever (including when it was known as its previous names, such as the Milk Cup, Coca Cola Cup, Rumbelows Cup and Worthington Cup) and the first ever all-London Carling Cup Final was just last year....
CARLING CUP, SEMI-FINAL, SECOND LEG
.....
Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Arsenal
(Spurs win 6-2 on aggregate)
By Mandeep Sanghera
Spurs celebrate after Robbie Keane put them 3-0 up (and 4-1 up on aggregate) against Arsenal
A pulsating Tottenham performance saw them run riot against Arsenal to book a place in the Carling Cup final.
Spurs got off to the perfect start when Jermaine Jenas angled in a shot to put them 2-1 ahead on aggregate.
Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner then headed into his own net before Robbie Keane's 18-yard shot put Spurs 3-0 up.
Aaron Lennon sidefooted in for Spurs before Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed a consolation for Arsenal but Steed Malbranque's strike completed the rout.
Tottenham had been left rueing a late Arsenal equaliser in the first leg and they also had the psychological baggage of not having beaten their arch rivals since November 1999.
But with home advantage and Arsenal's penchant for fielding fringe players in the Carling Cup, Spurs scented victory and they grabbed an early lead.
Jenas was allowed time and space to drive a shot across goal and the ball went in off the post after three minutes.
Spurs gave Arsenal's defence no respite with their fluent and attacking football as they took a stranglehold on the match.
The Gunners were also starved of possession in attack and they rarely looked like levelling, due to a mixture of poor play and a determined White Hart Lane side.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had kept faith with most of his second string for the game but drafted in a handful of first-team regulars in centre-back William Gallas, right-back Bacary Sagna and playmaker Alexander Hleb.
But the trio struggled to help their side break Spurs's grip and even the introduction of Cesc Fabregas for the injured Denilson did not help the visitors.
Instead, Bendtner's own goal added to the home side's lead after he headed in as he went up with Michael Dawson to meet a Jenas free-kick.
Arsenal were rattled and on the backfoot and Dimitar Berbatov should have inflicted another bodyblow to the visitors when he was clean through, only to hit the post with his shot.
Arsenal's Bendtner (left) and Gallas had a row near the end of the game
Jenas poked into the side-netting just before the break but Spurs did not have long to wait for a third.
Lennon's delightful ball with the outside of his right foot sent Keane through to score with a shot which appeared to catch Fabianski by surprise and one he should have saved.
Almost immediately, Bendtner looked set to give Arsenal a lifeline, only to see his strike bounce the wrong side of the goal-line after hitting the underside of the crossbar.
It got worse for Arsenal when Lennon slotted in on the hour mark as Spurs threatened to run riot.
Adebayor's 20-yard strike was too late to give Arsenal a way back into the game and their frustration boiled over when Bendtner appeared to argue with his team-mate and goalscorer before exchanging angry words with Gallas.
Malbranque compounded Arsenal's misery as Juande Ramos secured a place in the Carling Cup final on 24 February in his first season in charge.
Tottenham: Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Lee, Lennon (Huddlestone 74), Jenas, Tainio, Malbranque, Keane (Boateng 64), Berbatov (Defoe 64).
Subs Not Used: Robinson, O'Hara.
Booked: Malbranque, Jenas.
==============================
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Justin Hoyte, Gallas, Traore (Eduardo 65), Hleb, Denilson (Fabregas 18 ), Silva, Diaby, Walcott (Adebayor 65), Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Mannone, Flamini.
Booked: Justin Hoyte, Adebayor.
=================================
Attendance: 35,979 Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Tottenham 5-1 Arsenal: A neat one-two with Dimitar Berbatov puts Spurs's Jermain Jenas through for an early goal
The hosts continue to pile on the pressure throughout the first half as Arsenal show very little going forward
Tottenham double their lead in the 26th minute when Nicklas Bendtner heads Jenas's free-kick into his own net
Juande Ramos's men can hardly believe their luck as they go 3-1 up on aggregate, a lead they hold onto at half-time
There is little respite for Arsenal who see Robbie Keane net a third goal three minutes into the second half
The Irishman turns provider soon after, feeding Aaron Lennon who calmly fires his shot past Lukas Fabianski
Emmanuel Adebayor comes off the bench to pull a goal back only to see Steed Malbranque net a fifth near the end
The 6-1 aggregate score books Tottenham's place in the final where they will play Chelsea
***********************************************
Everton 0-1 Chelsea
(Chelsea win 3-1 on aggregate)
By Saj Chowdhury
Cole unleashed a great volley for the West London team
Chelsea secured a Carling Cup final meeting with Tottenham thanks to a Joe Cole strike that saw off the challenge of Everton at Goodison Park.
Cole scored the only goal of the game when he controlled Florent Malouda's raking ball and sent his half-volley past goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Chelsea also went close through striker Nicolas Anelka who hit the crossbar.
Everton's best chances came from the boots of Phil Neville and Phil Jagielka whose shots were saved by Petr Cech.
With Everton having not beaten their opposition since November 2000 in any competition, the omens were not good for David Moyes' side.
But ask Moyes what omens mean to him and you would probably get short shrift.
The Toffees played well at Stamford Bridge and were unlucky to be 2-1 down on aggegate going into the second leg.
And in the opening moments of the first half they resumed where they left off two weeks ago, dominating possession and flinging in balls, primarily from the boot of Neville, into the area.
If it was not Neville keeping the cup holders on their toes it was Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta, who managed to thread balls into the 18-yard box despite being surrounded by two or three defenders.
But Avram's Grant's Chelsea is similar to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea - tight at the back - and the recipients inside the area, Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson, were kept quiet for most of the match.
The second stingiest defence in the league coped brilliantly with what came into the danger zone and the only time Ricardo Carvalho and his backline were found wanting was when Joloen Lescott was allowed a free header from 12 yards, which Cech saved low.
Cech, whose wife gave birth to their first child earlier in the day, had little else to do in the first 45 minutes, but neither did opposite number Howard.
Fernandes and Malouda tussle at Goodison Park
The American was called into action only once during the same period when he crouched down to save an Anelka shot from 14 yards.
The French striker, who ambled with intent, went a lot closer straight after the restart when his curling shot rebounded off the crossbar from 18 yards after a good hold-and-pass from Cole.
The scare served as a reminder to Everton that they could not afford to lose concentration and they also needed to improve their ideas at the other end.
Neville took it upon himself to haul Everton back into the match, but his charge and vicious shot was well saved by Cech.
The Czech keeper had only just dusted himself off before going down again to deflect away a Jagielka flick.
Had they scored, the game would have taken on a different tone, but instead Chelsea went up the other end and all but secured their place at Wembley thanks to a sublime finish from Cole.
The England midfielder's one touch and half-volley from Malouda's searching ball gave Howard no chance.
Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Osman, Cahill, Carsley (Anichebe 70), Arteta, Fernandes (Vaughan 78 ), Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Stubbs.
Booked: Carsley, Fernandes, Nuno Valente, Neville.
=============================
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge, Makelele, Malouda (Ashley Cole 90), Sidwell, Joe Cole (Pizarro 82), Wright-Phillips, Anelka (Ben-Haim 90).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ferreira.
Booked: Makelele, Belletti.
===============================
Att: 37,086
Everton 0-1 Chelsea: Before the action starts, a minute's silence is observed for post-War Toffees striker Wally Fielding
With the hosts trailing 2-1 on aggregate, Andy Johnson goes in search of an early goal at Goodison Park
After missing two months with injury, Chelsea's Florent Malouda continues his return to action against Everton
Claude Makelele makes a rare Carling Cup start for the visitors and does his best to stifle Mikel Arteta's creative talents
At the other end, Nuno Valente looks to prevent Joe Cole from conjuring an opening for Avram Grant's side
Recent signing Nicolas Anelka (left) has a chance shortly before the break but it goes wide as the half ends goalless
Everton find themselves under some early second-half pressure but Joleon Lescott deals with the danger
With 69 minutes played, Malouda picks out Cole who scores a great goal to leave Everton needing two to force extra time
No further goals materialise as Chelsea hold on for the 3-1 aggregate win that will see them play Tottenham in the final
CARLING CUP FINAL: TOTTENHAM VS CHELSEA
SUNDAY 24TH FEBRUARY
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
Tottenham will play Chelsea in the Final, who beat Everton yesterday in their Semi-Final, Second Leg. Chelsea hail from West Lodon, so this year's Carling Cup Final will only be the second all-London Carling Cup Final ever (including when it was known as its previous names, such as the Milk Cup, Coca Cola Cup, Rumbelows Cup and Worthington Cup) and the first ever all-London Carling Cup Final was just last year....
CARLING CUP, SEMI-FINAL, SECOND LEG
Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Arsenal
(Spurs win 6-2 on aggregate)
By Mandeep Sanghera
Spurs celebrate after Robbie Keane put them 3-0 up (and 4-1 up on aggregate) against Arsenal
A pulsating Tottenham performance saw them run riot against Arsenal to book a place in the Carling Cup final.
Spurs got off to the perfect start when Jermaine Jenas angled in a shot to put them 2-1 ahead on aggregate.
Arsenal's Nicklas Bendtner then headed into his own net before Robbie Keane's 18-yard shot put Spurs 3-0 up.
Aaron Lennon sidefooted in for Spurs before Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed a consolation for Arsenal but Steed Malbranque's strike completed the rout.
Tottenham had been left rueing a late Arsenal equaliser in the first leg and they also had the psychological baggage of not having beaten their arch rivals since November 1999.
But with home advantage and Arsenal's penchant for fielding fringe players in the Carling Cup, Spurs scented victory and they grabbed an early lead.
Jenas was allowed time and space to drive a shot across goal and the ball went in off the post after three minutes.
Spurs gave Arsenal's defence no respite with their fluent and attacking football as they took a stranglehold on the match.
The Gunners were also starved of possession in attack and they rarely looked like levelling, due to a mixture of poor play and a determined White Hart Lane side.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had kept faith with most of his second string for the game but drafted in a handful of first-team regulars in centre-back William Gallas, right-back Bacary Sagna and playmaker Alexander Hleb.
But the trio struggled to help their side break Spurs's grip and even the introduction of Cesc Fabregas for the injured Denilson did not help the visitors.
Instead, Bendtner's own goal added to the home side's lead after he headed in as he went up with Michael Dawson to meet a Jenas free-kick.
Arsenal were rattled and on the backfoot and Dimitar Berbatov should have inflicted another bodyblow to the visitors when he was clean through, only to hit the post with his shot.
Arsenal's Bendtner (left) and Gallas had a row near the end of the game
Jenas poked into the side-netting just before the break but Spurs did not have long to wait for a third.
Lennon's delightful ball with the outside of his right foot sent Keane through to score with a shot which appeared to catch Fabianski by surprise and one he should have saved.
Almost immediately, Bendtner looked set to give Arsenal a lifeline, only to see his strike bounce the wrong side of the goal-line after hitting the underside of the crossbar.
It got worse for Arsenal when Lennon slotted in on the hour mark as Spurs threatened to run riot.
Adebayor's 20-yard strike was too late to give Arsenal a way back into the game and their frustration boiled over when Bendtner appeared to argue with his team-mate and goalscorer before exchanging angry words with Gallas.
Malbranque compounded Arsenal's misery as Juande Ramos secured a place in the Carling Cup final on 24 February in his first season in charge.
Tottenham: Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Lee, Lennon (Huddlestone 74), Jenas, Tainio, Malbranque, Keane (Boateng 64), Berbatov (Defoe 64).
Subs Not Used: Robinson, O'Hara.
Booked: Malbranque, Jenas.
==============================
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Justin Hoyte, Gallas, Traore (Eduardo 65), Hleb, Denilson (Fabregas 18 ), Silva, Diaby, Walcott (Adebayor 65), Bendtner.
Subs Not Used: Mannone, Flamini.
Booked: Justin Hoyte, Adebayor.
=================================
Attendance: 35,979 Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).
Tottenham 5-1 Arsenal: A neat one-two with Dimitar Berbatov puts Spurs's Jermain Jenas through for an early goal
The hosts continue to pile on the pressure throughout the first half as Arsenal show very little going forward
Tottenham double their lead in the 26th minute when Nicklas Bendtner heads Jenas's free-kick into his own net
Juande Ramos's men can hardly believe their luck as they go 3-1 up on aggregate, a lead they hold onto at half-time
There is little respite for Arsenal who see Robbie Keane net a third goal three minutes into the second half
The Irishman turns provider soon after, feeding Aaron Lennon who calmly fires his shot past Lukas Fabianski
Emmanuel Adebayor comes off the bench to pull a goal back only to see Steed Malbranque net a fifth near the end
The 6-1 aggregate score books Tottenham's place in the final where they will play Chelsea
***********************************************
Everton 0-1 Chelsea
(Chelsea win 3-1 on aggregate)
By Saj Chowdhury
Cole unleashed a great volley for the West London team
Chelsea secured a Carling Cup final meeting with Tottenham thanks to a Joe Cole strike that saw off the challenge of Everton at Goodison Park.
Cole scored the only goal of the game when he controlled Florent Malouda's raking ball and sent his half-volley past goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Chelsea also went close through striker Nicolas Anelka who hit the crossbar.
Everton's best chances came from the boots of Phil Neville and Phil Jagielka whose shots were saved by Petr Cech.
With Everton having not beaten their opposition since November 2000 in any competition, the omens were not good for David Moyes' side.
But ask Moyes what omens mean to him and you would probably get short shrift.
The Toffees played well at Stamford Bridge and were unlucky to be 2-1 down on aggegate going into the second leg.
And in the opening moments of the first half they resumed where they left off two weeks ago, dominating possession and flinging in balls, primarily from the boot of Neville, into the area.
If it was not Neville keeping the cup holders on their toes it was Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta, who managed to thread balls into the 18-yard box despite being surrounded by two or three defenders.
But Avram's Grant's Chelsea is similar to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea - tight at the back - and the recipients inside the area, Tim Cahill and Andy Johnson, were kept quiet for most of the match.
The second stingiest defence in the league coped brilliantly with what came into the danger zone and the only time Ricardo Carvalho and his backline were found wanting was when Joloen Lescott was allowed a free header from 12 yards, which Cech saved low.
Cech, whose wife gave birth to their first child earlier in the day, had little else to do in the first 45 minutes, but neither did opposite number Howard.
Fernandes and Malouda tussle at Goodison Park
The American was called into action only once during the same period when he crouched down to save an Anelka shot from 14 yards.
The French striker, who ambled with intent, went a lot closer straight after the restart when his curling shot rebounded off the crossbar from 18 yards after a good hold-and-pass from Cole.
The scare served as a reminder to Everton that they could not afford to lose concentration and they also needed to improve their ideas at the other end.
Neville took it upon himself to haul Everton back into the match, but his charge and vicious shot was well saved by Cech.
The Czech keeper had only just dusted himself off before going down again to deflect away a Jagielka flick.
Had they scored, the game would have taken on a different tone, but instead Chelsea went up the other end and all but secured their place at Wembley thanks to a sublime finish from Cole.
The England midfielder's one touch and half-volley from Malouda's searching ball gave Howard no chance.
Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Osman, Cahill, Carsley (Anichebe 70), Arteta, Fernandes (Vaughan 78 ), Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Stubbs.
Booked: Carsley, Fernandes, Nuno Valente, Neville.
=============================
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge, Makelele, Malouda (Ashley Cole 90), Sidwell, Joe Cole (Pizarro 82), Wright-Phillips, Anelka (Ben-Haim 90).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ferreira.
Booked: Makelele, Belletti.
===============================
Att: 37,086
Everton 0-1 Chelsea: Before the action starts, a minute's silence is observed for post-War Toffees striker Wally Fielding
With the hosts trailing 2-1 on aggregate, Andy Johnson goes in search of an early goal at Goodison Park
After missing two months with injury, Chelsea's Florent Malouda continues his return to action against Everton
Claude Makelele makes a rare Carling Cup start for the visitors and does his best to stifle Mikel Arteta's creative talents
At the other end, Nuno Valente looks to prevent Joe Cole from conjuring an opening for Avram Grant's side
Recent signing Nicolas Anelka (left) has a chance shortly before the break but it goes wide as the half ends goalless
Everton find themselves under some early second-half pressure but Joleon Lescott deals with the danger
With 69 minutes played, Malouda picks out Cole who scores a great goal to leave Everton needing two to force extra time
No further goals materialise as Chelsea hold on for the 3-1 aggregate win that will see them play Tottenham in the final
CARLING CUP FINAL: TOTTENHAM VS CHELSEA
SUNDAY 24TH FEBRUARY
news.bbc.co.uk/sport