WEMBLEY, England (AP):

Manchester United won the League Cup with a 4-1 penalty-shoot-out victory over Tottenham Hotspur yesterday that kept the English league leaders on course for an unprecedented five trophies this season.

After a 0-0 draw through extra-time that both teams had chances to win, United goalkeeper Ben Foster saved Tottenham's first shoot-out kick from Jamie O'Hara and David Bentley missed the third before Anderson hit the winner.

The victory gave United their second trophy of the season, following December's Club World Cup title. The Red Devils also lead the Premier League by seven points, are in contention for the Champions League and play Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals next weekend.

Out of the cup

"We're not going to get carried away with it," United manager Alex Ferguson said.

"We'll keep our feet on the ground. A deflected shot goes off someone's backside at Fulham on Wednesday and you're out of the cup. Today proved that. "Without Ben Foster, we'd have lost that."

United showed the resources it will have to draw upon if it is to triumph in its other competitions this season, introducing substitutes Nemanja Vidic, Ryan Giggs and Anderson to bolster its line-up against a Tottenham side playing with confidence.

"They've got a big chance," Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said. "The league looks like it's going their way and you wouldn't bet against them."

Foster made two crucial saves during the match to deny Aaron Lennon and Darren Bent and prevent defending champion Tottenham from retaining the trophy. But United could have also won the match in regular time when Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored in the shoot-out alongside Giggs and Carlos Tevez, hit the post in injury time.

Uncharacteristically shaky

United's defence had appeared uncharacteristically shaky against a team 13 positions lower in the Premier League as Lennon continually ran at and past left back Patrice Evra, sending in cross after cross.

"He gave Evra, who with Ashley Cole is the best left back in the Premier League, a torrid time," Redknapp said.

"Tottenham are good opponents and they probably had better chances in the match," Ferguson said. "But Ben Foster made two or three good saves."

The difference between the teams seemed to be the strength in depth. While O'Hara and Bentley both missed penalties after coming on as substitutes, Giggs scored for United.

"We played the best team in Europe today and it wasn't their kids," Redknapp said. "Vidic comes on and Giggs comes on and you look at their team and it's very strong. They wanted to win as much as we did."