Manchester United maintained their good early season form with a 3-0 away win over Leeds United in the Carling Cup tonight. The Red Devils cruised to the three-goal lead by half-time courtesy of goals from veterans Michael Owen and Ryan Giggs to move past the third round of the league cup competition.
Sir Alex Ferguson used a good mix of youth and experience for the trip to Elland Road, starting with the likes of Ben Amos, Ezekiel Fryers, Fabio and Federico Macheda alongside Owen, Giggs, Michael Carrick and Park Ji-sung and his selection choice paid off handsomely.
Owen made it 11 goals in 12 starts for United with his 15th and 32nd minute finishes whilst Giggs put the icing on the cake on the stroke of half-time as the reigning Premier League champions continued their free-flowing beginning to the campaign.
In London, Arsenal overcame a tardy start to eventually haul in League Two Shrewsbury Town 3-1 thanks to goals from Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yossi Benayoun.
James Collins had headed the Shrews in front in the 16th minute before Gibbs leveled just after the half-hour mark but the most impressive display of the night came from Gunners new boy Oxlade-Chamberlain who opened his account for his new club with a 25-yard effort on the hour. Chelsea loanee Benayoun added a third with just over 10 minutes remaining for his first Gunners goal as Arsene Wenger's men saved the blushes of the North Londoners with a stronger second half display.
Wolves hammered ChampionshipMillwall 5-0 at the Molineux with Dave Edwards, back from about six months on the sidelines, opening the scoring early before Adam Hammill, George Elokobi, James Spray and Adlene Guedioura added to the tally for Mick McCarthy.
In the remainder of the first night of third round Carling Cup matches, Aldershot Town came from behind to defeat Rochdale 2-1, Bolton won 2-0 at Aston Villa thanks to goals from Chris Eagles and Gael Kakuta, Burnley got the better of MK Dons with a 2-1 result at Turf Moor after trailing early, Blackburn Rovers managed to get past League OneLeyton Orient 3-2 and Crystal Palace edged Middlesbrough 2-1.
And two matches went to extra-time with Nottingham Forest coming from behind on three occasions against Newcastle United only to fall 4-3 when Magpies skipper Fabricio Coloccini headed home in the 122nd minute whilst Peter Crouch converted his spot-kick to help Stoke City beat his former club Tottenham 7-6 on penalties after it finished 0-0 after 120 minutes.
2011/12 Carling Cup third round scores
Wolves (PREM): 5 (Dave Edwards 3', Adam Hammill 7', George Elokobi 38', James Spray 77', Adlene Guedioura 88') Millwall (CHA): 0 Molineux, Wolverhampton
Aldershot Town (L2): 2 (Michael Rankine 47', Daniel Hylton 78') Rochdale (L1): 1 (Ashley Grimes 45') Recreation Ground, Aldershot
Burnley (CHA): 2 (Kieran Trippier 59', Andre Bikey 89') MK Dons (L1): 1 (Daniel Powell 6') Turf Moor, Burnley
Nottingham Forest (CHA): 3 (Robbie Findley 46', Matt Derbyshire 66', Marcus Tudgay 114') Newcastle United (PREM): 4 (Peter Lovenkrands 39'/(p) 60', Danny Simpson 93, Fabricio Coloccini 120+2') City Ground, Nottingham
Arsenal (PREM): 3 (Kieran Gibbs 33', Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 58', Yossi Benayoun 78') Shrewsbury Town (L2): 1 (James Collins 16') Emirates Stadium, London
Aston Villa (PREM): 0 Bolton (PREM): 2 (Chris Eagles 54', Gael Kakuta 77') Villa Park, Birmingham
Leeds United (CHA): 0 Manchester United (PREM): 3 (Michael Owen 15'/32', Ryan Giggs 45+1') Elland Road, Leeds
Stoke City (PREM): 0 (Stoke won 7-6 on penalties) Tottenham (PREM): 0 Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
Blackburn Rovers (PREM): 3 (Jason Roberts (p) 44', Ruben Rochina 71' Simon Vukcevic 75') Leyton Orient (L1): 2 (David Mooney 64'. Dean Cox 86') Ewood Park, Blackburn
Crystal Palace (CHA): 2 (Wilfred Zaha 18', Calvin Andrew 52') Middlesbrough (CHA): 1 (Merouane Zemmama 55') Selhurst Park, London
