Man U Hammered

LONDON (AP):

Manchester United's hopes of a third League Cup title in a row were ended yesterday when it was thrashed 4-0 by a rampant West Ham in a surprisingly one-sided quarter-final at Upton Park.

United States defender Jonathan Spector and England striker Carlton Cole both scored twice for the Hammers, who inflicted a first defeat of the season in all competitions on their Premier League rivals - four-time winners of England's second-tier cup competition and the current league leaders.

In the night's other match, Arsenal easily saw off Wigan 2-0 thanks to Antolin Alcaraz's own goal and a close-range strike by Nicklas Bendtner. The Gunners are now heavy favourites to win the competition and end a trophy drought that goes back to 2005.

The other two quarter-finals will be played today with Birmingham hosting fierce local rivals Aston Villa and Ipswich - the only non-Premier League team left in the competition - at home to West Bromwich Albion.

West Ham are bottom of the Premier League but earned a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Wigan on Saturday and would have fancied their chances when they saw the team sheets, with United making 10 changes to a starting side that routed Blackburn 7-1 at the weekend.

Two goals

What the Hammers would not have counted on was two goals from Spector, a former United player who hadn't previously scored in six years in English football. He was also playing out of position in central midfield and hadn't appeared in the first team since August.

West Ham were denied the lead in the 16th when Victor Obinna's shot, which deflected in off Spector, was ruled out for offside against the American player.

The hosts didn't have to wait long before going ahead, Spector getting in front of Darren Fletcher to head home Obinna's cross in the 22nd.

Then, after going on a surging run 15 minutes later, his pass into the box was blocked but the loose ball ran free and he pounced to send a rasping shot into the United net.