Ben Foster kept Manchester United's bid for an unprecedented five trophies on track with a man-of-the-match performance in a penalty shoot-out win over Tottenham in the League Cup final here on Sunday.

The England goalkeeper produced two crucial saves to deny Tottenham victory in open play, where the teams finished locked at 0-0, before pulling off a superb stop to keep out Jamie O'Hara’s opening penalty for the visitors.

That handed United the edge and, after David Bentley had sent Spurs' third spot-kick wide, Brazilian midfielder Anderson coolly converted to ensure United won the shootout 4-1 and lifted the trophy for only the third time in the club's history.

Having already bagged the World Club Championship in December, Sir Alex Ferguson's side now have a chance to emulate the great Celtic side of 1967 by completing a domestic treble as well as bringing home the European Cup.

It was a triumph that United probably just about deserved after coming agonisingly close to sealing victory in the third minuteofinjury timeattheend of the first 90 minutes.

Collecting Darron Gibson’s pass on the right of the box, Cristiano Ronaldo cut inside and beat Heurelho Gomes at his near post with a shot that clattered off the inside of the upright at such pace that Nani was unable to direct the rebound on target.

That capped a frustrating 90 minutes for the Portugal winger, who had earlier been booked for diving when he might easily have won his side a penalty.

Tottenham, too, might have dispensed with the need for extra-time if Aaron Lennon had been able to beat Foster from ten yards out midway

through the second half.

Such an outcome would have been an unfair reflection of a contest in which United mostly held the upper hand, although United had reason to be grateful to Foster once more he thwarted Darren Bent with his legs, five minutes before the end of the second period of the time.