Gerardo Martino's team also worked extremely hard to thwart Spain's passing game and looked extremely dangerous on the counter, with the lively Valdez wasting a decent position with an atrocious shot just before the interval after a sharp break.
Diego Forlan finally fashioned a chance for Atletico five minutes before the interval with a shot on the turn that flashed just wide with Reina beaten.
Damien Duff's unfortunate own goal - deflecting in Gareth Barry's 20-yard shot seven minutes before the interval - ensured Alan Shearer's mission to save Newcastle from relegation ended in devastating failure.
Former Everton player Cadamarteri almost put his side further ahead five minutes after the interval, but his shot was superbly tipped over by Robert Green.
Posh rallied before the interval but Aaron McLean shot wide from 20 yards and Tommy Rowe had a shot blocked after another long Geohaghon throw-in caused chaos.
Rangers improved after the interval and Maurice Edu had shot saved, while a Steven Naismith header hit the bar.
Matt Reynold's poked in the opener from close range and a rocket shot from Konstantin Kalmikov was too strong for the Giants netminder Stevie Lyle but before the first interval Colin Shields reduced the arrears with a well-placed slap shot.
Five minutes from the interval, Ruben Palazuelos fired a shot towards goal but was denied by Accies keeper Tomas Cerny.
Justin Cochrane flashed a shot just wide for Crewe just before the interval - and Gradi opted to introduce Higdon for Neil Sorvel at the break.
Boyd was not be denied, however, and the young striker scored a sensational long range strike four minutes after the interval - with his 25 yard shot going in off the underside of the crossbar.
Despite the danger at the back West Ham might have been level at the interval, but for a hopeless air shot from the rusty Benni McCarthy.
Windass nearly equalised immediately after the interval, skipping around Enckelman but sending the shot wide.
McGowan slipped in his second and a shot from Paul McQuade squirmed under John Bateman before the interval.
Smith tipped Neil Midgley's right-foot shot over the crossbar at the other end as the interval approached but it was the visitors who finally broke the deadlock after 53 minutes.
The visitors could have been more than 2-0 up by the interval - Carson patting the ball down after a shot from Luka Modric only for the ball to luckily skid away, forcing Kranjcar too wide to shoot.
Liam Kelly added a header after the interval, while Richie Foran pegged one back when his shot squirmed in.
However, Hearts came out after the interval re-energised and Michael Stewart quickly whistled a shot past, before Driver broke the deadlock on 50 minutes.
Stoke had at least threatened after the interval, and Seyi Olifinjana's 20-yard shot brought a fine save from Blackburn keeper Paul Robinson, with Ricardo Fuller steering the rebound wide.
Just before the interval James Milner went desperately close for Villa when his curling shot almost found the top corner of the net.
BBC: SPORT | Football | League Cup | Doncaster 3-0 Aston Villa
Jacek Krzynowek then had a couple of efforts from long range as Poland gathered momentum, which continued after the interval as well, with Smolarek having a 20-meter shot saved.
McCulloch quickly levelled for Rangers with a deflected shot and the midfielder volleyed home his second just after the half-time interval.
Reina was tested twice by Nani's shot and a Rooney free-kick from the edge of the area before the interval, but the game had settled after an explosive opening.
Dickov's work-rate was rewarded shortly before the interval when he latched on to a long through ball and teed up a shot.
Alves tried his luck from long range 11 minutes before the interval, and Blades' keeper Kenny was forced to punch away his powerful shot.
Aberdeen signalled their early intent after the interval, with Foster stinging the palms of Ma-Kalambay with a fierce shot before Michael Paton shot over a minute later.
Eight minutes from the interval, St Johnstone left-back Danny Grainger tried his luck with a shot that dropped perfectly for Samuel after a couple of ricochets off defenders.
Arsenal managed to steady the ship after the interval, but they never seriously threatened United apart from a tame Cesc Fabregas shot and a volley from Emmanuel Adebayor after the break.
The visitors piled on the pressure after the interval and twice Wilkerson produced fine saves to deny MacDonald, while Justin Richards shot just the wrong side of the post and then blazed the ball over the crossbar.
John Carew doubled the lead after his long-range shot was deflected in, but Rovers roared back with Jason Price poking in just before the interval.
Nasri's deflected shot opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and he doubled their advantage three minutes after the interval with a powerful finish from Cesc Fabregas's precise pass.
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