Manchester United and Tottenham each won 2-0 to progress to the quarterfinals of England's League Cup Tuesday and keep alive the chances of a repeat of last season's final. Danny Wellbeck and Michael Owen scored to give defending champion United victory at lowly Barnsley, while Tottenham beat Premier League rival Everton through goals by Tom Huddlestone and Robbie Keane. Blackburn conceded two equalizers before beating Peterborough 5-2, and Portsmouth showed the sort of form it needs to get off the bottom of the Premier League by beating Stoke 4-0. United manager Alex Ferguson rested most of his regular starters and fielded a team featuring three right backs but his side went ahead in the sixth minute, Wellbeck connecting with a simple header from Anderson's corner. Owen, starting just his fifth game since joining United, showed a glimpse of the form that made him the 2001 European Player of the Year in the 59th when he won the ball 25 meters from goal, beat three defenders and shot past the goalkeeper. Gary Neville was sent off moments later for a foul on Adam Hammill to give Barnsley hope against a team that had dominated the opening exchanges to such an extent that the home team's first corner in the 22nd was greeted with huge cheers. Striker Daniel Bogdanovich headed just wide from the corner to start a period of pressure by Barnsley, which is without a major trophy since the 1912 FA Cup, but the League Championship side was denied a goal by its poor finishing. Atletico beats Marbella Atletico Madrid ended its recent run of dire results by beating third-division Marbella 2-0 in a Copa del Rey round of 32 match Tuesday. La Liga contender Sevilla beat third-division Atletico Ciudad 4-2 with two goals from Luis Fabiano; and Recreativo Huelva drew 1-1 with Sporting Gijon. Messi best in Spain Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won an award as the best player in last season's Spanish league. The Argentine international was also awarded a prize as the league's best forward in a ceremony in Madrid late Monday. Messi scored 23 goals in the Spanish league and nine more in the Champions League as Barcelona won those titles and the Copa del Rey last season. Ferguson accepts charge Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has accepted a charge of improper conduct following his comments on the fitness of referee Alan Wiley. Ferguson criticized Wiley following his team's 2-2 Premier League draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford on Oct. 3, saying the official was not fit enough to keep up with the pace of the match. Those comments infuriated many referees who claimed it was unwarranted and would leave a lasting stain on Wiley's reputation. The referees' union Prospect subsequently called for Ferguson to be given a lengthy touchline ban.
