Super Scholes seals final spot

Sir Alex Ferguson saluted Worthington Cup semi-final hero Paul Scholes last night after the Manchester United midfielder destroyed holders Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

Scholes scored twice in the first half to cancel out Andy Cole's opener for Rovers and pave the way to a 3-1 second-leg win that set up a Millennium Stadium showdown with Liverpool on March 2. He has now scored in six successive games and hit 14 goals - equalling his best campaign.

Ferguson said: 'They couldn't control him, he won the match for us. He's settled into the positions he is good at and we always give him the licence he needs. The maturity in his game has been fantastic this season - he's shown an understanding and a realisation of what he's good at.'

Scholes' 29th-minute equaliser brought claims of handball but Blackburn manager Graeme Souness conceded: 'We didn't deal with him in the first half. He's a very special player.'

His second after 42 minutes left Rovers with an uphill task and Ruud van Nistelrooy's 77th-minute penalty - after Brad Friedel had brought him down - took United to their 11th final under Ferguson since 1990.

The United manager said: 'Four years without a final is too long for United, so I'm delighted. Liverpool and United games are fantastic. It doesn't matter if they're playing tiddlywinks, it would be a great game.'