128 years, 196 derbies between Manchester United and Manchester City, but according to Sir Alex, this was the greatest derby of all time. If the United manager, having seen everything football has to offer comes out and says this, it can only be true. What a match! 90 minutes no one would ever have imagined. If you did not watch the match, then you have missed one of the greatest games ever televised.
The game at Old Trafford had everything- thrills, spills, blunders, goals, comebacks and in the end high drama. Sir Alex went for experience in midfield with Giggs along side Fletcher, Anderson and Park. Former United hero Carlos Tevez was handed a start and was welcomed with boos all around Old Trafford. United fans welcomed their rivals with a large flag at the old scoreboard end that read “ Welcome to Manchester: 18 Premier League titles. 3 European Cups. 11 FA Cups.
United had a dream start to the game. They took the lead through in form striker Wayne Rooney, before the game could even settle in. United earned a throw in in the City half. Left back Evra advanced along the byline only to find Rooney six yards out. The City defenders tried to close him down in vain as he slotted it past Shay Given’s legs to take the lead.
United however played second fiddle for the rest of the half. City were back on level terms after 17 minutes. The architect of the goal was none other than Tevez. United keeper Foster failed to clear a harmless City ball forward. Tevez tackled him and then laid the ball onto Gareth Barry’s path. With the United goal empty, Barry just side-footed it past Nemanja Vidic.
After that it was all City. They took control of the midfield, due to their man advantage and started dictating the match. Berbatov had 2 opportunities, but could not change the scoreline. City were handed an opportunity to go 2-1 up at the end of the first half. Clever play from City found Tevez inside the box with only the keeper to beat. He should have scored, but Evra’s intervention was enough as his shot hit the post. The first half ended with City being the better of the 2 sides.
Sir Alex is very famous for his half time motivational speeches or the hair dryer treatment as it is referred to. It sure seemed to work as United took the lead early in the second half. It was Evra and Giggs who set up the goal. Giggs sent a deep cross to the far post. Fletcher jumped over the City defence to head it past the City keeper. City answered immediately with the equaliser. Park should take the blame for the goal. It was he who gave Craig Bellamy the free space required, as Bellamy cut inside and hit an unstoppable shot into Foster’s top corner.
United now stepped up the tempo. Valencia replaced Park, earning a corner almost immediately. Berbatov then brought out 2 world class saves from Given. First was a shot from point blank range. It was time to turn on the screw. Berbatov tested Given again from a header. “ Attack, attack, attack “ was the cry from the Stretford end, as Giggs tested the City keeper with a volley. Only one team was playing football now. The noise started to rise as the fans smelled victory. Michael Owen was brought on in search of the all-important winner.
Evra won a free kick for United on the left. Giggs provided a curling delivery and Fletcher headed it in for his second, to give United the lead. It was well deserved, as it was a brilliant second half display from the home team. The match was not over yet. With the clock running down, a sloppy pass from defender Ferdinand let in Bellamy, who used his pace to get past him and run towards the United goal. With only the keeper to beat, Bellamy slid it past Foster to level the game 3-3 with 2 minutes left.
Old Trafford went silent. A draw in the game would have been a devastating result. 3 mistakes from United had allowed City back into the match. 4 minutes of time was added on, as United tried to get one more goal in. What followed were 6 minutes of high drama. The referee let play continue even after the stipulated 4 minutes of injury time. With 5 minutes gone, United won a free kick in the City half. It was cleared but went straight to Giggs who sent a killing pass to Owen. Owen got past his marker and found himself in acres of space inside the box. He put it past Given to grab his first Old Trafford goal and the winner. Old Trafford exploded. The players , the fans and the manager all started celebrating. City could not come back into the match as the final whistle brought to end the greatest derby of all time. United had knicked it in time.
It was Giggs who led the United attack and deserved the Man of the Match award for his second half performance. These 90 minutes have silenced the United critics. They have brought 2 unbeaten runs to an end. Last week with Tottenham and now with City. City only managed to create one open chance through out the game. It could easily have been a 6-0 or 7-0 thrashing on any other day. What United showed to the world, is that they are and will always be the “ Kings of Manchester ” – even 120 million cannot change that. Go United!!!
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Author: Rahul Nair – Seasoned Keeda
Has written 28 Articles, posted 8 Comments, 0 Posts, has 3 Fans and was thanked 14 Times
Well, I did love the last line! // even 120 million cannot change that…//
Actually, there is more to a team than just pooling in stars… United have that !!