French striker Louis Saha volleyed Manchester United [Images] into the League Cup final on Wednesday, a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford taking them through 3-2 on aggregate.

United will face Wigan Athletic in the final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on February 26.

In a highly-charged tie Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy [Images], making his first League Cup start since United's 2003 losing final appearance, fired the home side into an eighth-minute lead but Steven Reid levelled just past the half-hour.

Brad Friedel dived to his right to superbly beat away Van Nistelrooy's penalty just before halftime but was beaten on 51 minutes when Saha volleyed in Wayne Rooney's [Images] cross.

A fractious first half, which had threatened to boil over on more than one occasion, reached fever pitch at the whistle with affronted Rovers midfielder Robbie Savage, struck accidentally on the head moments earlier by van Nistelrooy, remonstrating with Rio Ferdinand.

TV cameras then showed players charging after the pair into the tunnel to join an apparent fracas.

"It was a very competitive game, they (Rovers) make you work and the referee work, there is no question of that," United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"At the end of the day we had some fantastic chances and their goalkeeper (Friedel) has been magnificent again. Tonight he made three incredible saves."

Van Nistelrooy's incisive finish had given United a flying start. Strike partner Rooney was the creator, although his intended pass after a surging run took a kind deflection off backtracking defender Michael Gray to fall perfectly for the Dutchman to fire past Friedel.

INJURY BLOW

United, depleted in midfield since Roy Keane's departure and further weakened by the absence of Paul Scholes, suffered another injury blow on 13 minutes when Ryan Giggs limped off with a hamstring strain.

Rovers levelled the tie against the run of play just past the half-hour, Reid capitalising on Kieran Richardson's clearance which cannoned off Wes Brown into the Ireland midfielder's path. Reid picked his spot, shooting under Edwin van der Sar's body.

United, who had a let-off when Van der Sar went unpenalised for clattering into Morten Gamst Pedersen in the area, were awarded a penalty just before halftime for handball against Zurab Khizanishvili. But Friedel dived to his right to superbly beat away van Nistelrooy's spot-kick.

Friedel palmed away van Nistelrooy's goalbound header soon after the re-start but was given no chance when Saha's sliced volley arrowed into the corner of the net.

The American keeper denied van Nistelrooy again soon after but Rovers, despite late pressure, ran out of steam.

Angry Rovers boss Mark Hughes blasted referee Graham Poll for handing United their penalty and denying Rovers striker Pedersen a spot-kick.

"How the first one was given I have no idea, ours I felt was more blatant but wasn't given," he said.

"We were all getting frustrated by the referee in all honesty and unfortunately these days there are only so many Premiership referees... and possibly they enjoy the celebrity status they have and I think Mr Poll thought tonight 61,000 people had come to see him."

Wigan, elected to the Football League in 1978, reached their first major final after a last minute goal in extra time against Arsenal [Images] on Tuesday put them through on away goals.

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