Norwegian Morten Gamst Pedersen hit a blistering equaliser to secure Blackburn Rovers a 1-1 draw with Manchester United [Images] in a fiery League Cup semi-final, first-leg clash on Wednesday.

Pedersen, who scored twice at Old Trafford earlier in the season when Rovers won 2-1 in a surprise league victory, quickly cancelled out Louis Saha's 30th-minute opener at Ewood Park to leave the tie well-poised.

"It [the tie] is very much open, it's halftime, 1-1, and we are reasonably happy with that," Rovers coach and former United striker Mark Hughes told Sky Sports.

"It was a good cup tie, obviously we went behind initially, but we got a great response... a fantastic strike from Morten and we could have had a couple more as well."

United manager Alex Ferguson, chastened by the inept display from his second-string side in the humiliating 0-0 FA Cup draw by minor league Burton Albion on Saturday, selected a near full-strength side.

Rovers, the 2002 winners, nearly caught the visitors cold and only a fine block with his legs by Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar prevented the hosts going ahead after just 24 seconds.

A shaky United then almost let in Craig Bellamy but United weathered the early storm and went ahead when Ryan Giggs bisected two Rovers defenders with a short pass to find an unmarked Saha in space with time to pick his spot past Brad Friedel.

United's lead lasted just five minutes, Pedersen latching on to Shefki Kuqi's header down to blast home a fierce shot.

The match threatened to boil over soon after with an ugly melee ensuing after Alan Smith's tackle from behind on Robbie Savage. Both were booked along with Wayne Rooney [Images], who had to be pulled off the Rovers midfielder after a tussle on the ground.

Hughes said the return leg at Old Trafford on January 25 held no fears for his side after their victory in September.

"It's something we have done, we are more than capable of that," he said.

"Tonight we have showed we are able to compete with one of the best sides in the league. They showed us great respect by picking the side they did."

Wigan Athletic established a 1-0 advantage over Arsenal [Images] in the first leg of the other semi-final on Tuesday.

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