London, England (CNN) -- On-form Wayne Rooney came off the bench to score the winner as Manchester United beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the English League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

CNN: Rooney heads winner for United in English League Cup final

While Real would go on to win the nascent competition for the second year in a row, defeating Fiorentina of Italy in the final, United finished the season as English league champions before losing to Aston Villa in the FA Cup final in front of nearly 100, 000 at Wembley.

CNN: February 12, 2013 -- Updated 1220 GMT (2020 HKT)

Villas-Boas' assistant Roberto Di Matteo -- a former Chelsea player -- took over and led the club to two trophies, winning the English FA Cup two weeks before the Champions League final.

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On Tuesday, Bradford City advanced past Aston Villa of the Premier League to the final of the League Cup, a competition reserved for the 92 teams in the English game's top four tiers.

WSJ: Bradford City and Luton Town Are the Cinderellas of English Soccer

Meanwhile Aston Villa beat Blackburn Rovers 6-4 in a thrilling English League Cup semifinal second leg tie to go through 7-4 on aggregate and secure a Wembley final against either Manchester United or Manchester City.

CNN: Win puts Arsenal top of Premier League

Meanwhile, the first major domestic trophy of the English season was claimed by Swansea as they beat minnows Bradford 5-0 in the final of the League Cup at Wembley Sunday.

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