United's Wembley weekend got off to the perfect start when elsewhere in London, title rivals Chelsea were thrashed 4-2 on their home turf.
With the Reds involved in Sunday's Carling Cup final, Carlo Ancelotti's side had a chance to go four points clear in the Barclays Premier League. But despite opening the scoring against Manchester City, Chelsea suffered their first home league defeat of the season and finished with nine men following red cards for Juliano Belletti and Michael Ballack.
With City defending doggedly, it took Chelsea until the 42nd minute to draw first blood through Frank Lampard. However, the lead lasted only until first-half injury time when former United striker Carlos Tevez grabbed an equaliser.
Craig Bellamy scored at both ends of the second period and Tevez completed his own double when he slotted home a penalty following Belletti's foul on Gareth Barry. Lampard's second goal in injury time, also a spot-kick, merely reduced the arrears from an embarrassing 4-1 scoreline to a still quite shameful 4-2.
The away fans sang "There's only one Wayne Bridge" in celebration and in support of City's left-back, who declined to shake the hand of former team-mate John Terry before kick-off following the recent, much-publicised dramas off the field.
Chelsea's loss leaves them one point ahead of United after the same number of games.
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