LEAD: Palace stun United in Carling Cup quarter

Nov 30, 2011, 23:24 GMT

London - Championship side Crystal Palace put Manchester United out of the Carling Cup on Wednesday and will face Cardiff City in the semi-final, while Manchester City play Liverpool.

The draw, conducted soon after the end of a stunning game at Old Trafford, ensured there will be a second-flight side in the League Cup final for the first time since Birmingham City in 2001.

A much changed United side featuring a number of young players never hit top gear and, although Federico Macheda equalized Darren Ambrose's screamer, an extra-time header from Glenn Murray gave Palace an improbable win.

'We've had a quiet period in the season but we came here in confident mood and the spirit is fantastic,' said Ambrose.

'We've got a great team spirit, it's a lot different from last year - we can beat anyone, and we showed that tonight.'

United looked disjointed early on and with Palace having failed to score in five matches, the first hour was scrappy and a little scruffy.

But with 65 minutes played, Ambroise gave Palace the lead with a stunning drive from 40 yards that seemed to pick up pace in the air.

United, who had gone close through Antonio Valencia, levelled within four minutes.

Paddy McCarthy hauled down Federico Macheda in the box, and the Italian got up to convert the penalty.

The scratchiness continued, but eight minutes into extra time Ambrose whipped in a free-kick from the left and Murray, stretching back from an offside position guided in a header.

United then laid siege to the Palace goal, but Dougie Freedman's side held out to inflict just United's second home defeat in 43 matches.

'It's a wonderful night for the club, especially given the position we've been in the last few years,' said Freedman.

'To play at Old Trafford tonight, we're privileged, the lads learnt a lot from tonight.

'I think we deserved it. We played some stuff, some good football. We thought if we came with a gameplan that could be stuck to and everybody played eight, nine, 10 out of 10 we could do it.'