Man United 4
Rooney (5), Fletcher (48, 80), Owen (95) 
Man City 3, Barry (16), Bellamy (52, 90)
Old Trafford, 20 September 75,066
United deservedly won this pulsating derby in the high drama of injury time, but only after fans' nerves had been shredded after they let City back into the game three times. The Reds should have had it wrapped up, but with the scores locked at 3-3 after 90 minutes, Michael Owen chose the most opportune time to hit his first Old Trafford goal.
Rooney had given the Reds the lead, only for Tevez to capitalise on Foster's error and set up Gareth Barry's equaliser. Darren Fletcher then twice put United in front, but Craig Bellamy equalised on both occasions. That left substitute Owen to latch onto the outstanding Ryan Giggs' throughball and, in the sixth minute of injury time, poked home a brilliant winner.
It certainly was a game of two halves as, despite United's rapid start, City had most of the possession before the break. But the victory was wholly justified as United's second-half display was sheer class.
As the City players began their warm-up before the game, the boos that normally greet their visit were that little bit louder as Carlos Tevez had recovered from injury to make City’s starting XI. There was no place, of course, for the suspended Emmanuel Adebayor or the injured Robinho. Still, our blue neighbours would not entirely be deterred. Their 100 per cent start to the campaign, on the back of huge summer spending, has given rise to the belief (largely at Eastlands) that they are title challengers. At this stage at least, City are mere pretenders. And a large flag unveiled at the old scoreboard end before kick-off spelt it out simply, yet emphatically. Welcome to Manchester: 18 Premier League titles. 3 European Cups. 11 FA Cups. At the other end of the ground, the clock is clicking onto 34 years.
Sir Alex promised the game would be feisty, and that’s how it started. Tevez, typically tenacious, gave United an early fright when he blocked Ben Foster’s clearance, but from the resulting throw-in the Reds countered with Dimitar Berbatov, who slid an incisive pass into Rooney’s path. He was tackled by Micah Richards, but from a second throw-in City were caught out. Evra advanced along the byline unmarked before finding Rooney six yards out; he steadied himself with two blue shirts in close proximity and poked a shot through Shay Given’s legs. A dream start after just two minutes.
However, it was the high point in a frustrating half for United. After 17 minutes the Reds were pegged back – Tevez the goal’s architect. During two years at Old Trafford, United were well-accustomed to Tevez eagerly pestering opposition goalkeepers. And so – especially after an earlier warning – it was surprising that Foster didn’t clear his lines from a harmless blue ball forward. Instead, the Reds keeper hesitated, allowing Tevez to tackle him and lay the ball off for Gareth Barry, who side-footed past Nemanja Vidic on the line.
Despite the excellent start, the Reds enjoyed limited opportunities in front of goal for the remainder of the half. Berbatov saw a long-range effort go over and then couldn’t keep a header down from Giggs’ free-kick. City, with three central midfielders to United’s two, enjoyed a dominant share of possession, but they too lacked the guile to create. That is, until the final minute of the half when the ball was worked through to Tevez in the area. The Argentinian, with just Foster to beat, hit the post but that was largely due to Evra’s off-putting intervention.
Sir Alex is famed for his half-time motivational speeches, and this one must have been a corker because the Reds came back out with fire in their bellies. Within three minutes, Evra and Giggs combined well with the latter sending a deep cross to the far post, and Fletcher rose above the City defence to head past Given and make it advantage United again. Once more, though, City plucked something out of nothing to level the scores. Bellamy was allowed too much time on the ball and United were again ruthlessly punished as he cut inside and hit an unstoppable shot into Foster’s top corner.
United recognised the need for change on the hour mark and Sir Alex chose Antonio Valencia's direct threat on the right, replacing the energy of Park. The Ecuadorian earned a corner almost immediately, from which Berbatov forced a point-blank save from Given. A flurry of corners followed as United really began to turn the screw, with Given again denying a headed Berbatov effort from Giggs’ centre. “Attack, attack, attack,” came the cry from the Stretford End, seconds before the Welshman’s rifled shot forced another save from Given. United's baying fans sensed derby victory was there for the taking as the noise levels reached deafening decibels. Sir Alex sensed it, too, bringing on Owen in place of Berbatov to search for the all-important winner.
The goal soon arrived, and it was the same combination as before. Evra won a free-kick on the left, Giggs provided the curling delivery, and Fletcher headed home. It was nothing more than United deserved after a brilliant second-half display. Now the question was, with nine minutes remaining, could the Reds avoid handing City a route back into the match for a third time?
The answer, infuriatingly, was no. This time a sloppy pass from Ferdinand let in Bellamy and his pace took him away from the United no.5 before sliding the ball past Foster to level at 3-3. But whatever blame could be apportioned was dramatically and gloriously chalked off when Owen grabbed his late, late winner to end an enthralling derby in United's favour.
Rooney had given the Reds the lead, only for Tevez to capitalise on Foster's error and set up Gareth Barry's equaliser. Darren Fletcher then twice put United in front, but Craig Bellamy equalised on both occasions. That left substitute Owen to latch onto the outstanding Ryan Giggs' throughball and, in the sixth minute of injury time, poked home a brilliant winner.
It certainly was a game of two halves as, despite United's rapid start, City had most of the possession before the break. But the victory was wholly justified as United's second-half display was sheer class.
As the City players began their warm-up before the game, the boos that normally greet their visit were that little bit louder as Carlos Tevez had recovered from injury to make City’s starting XI. There was no place, of course, for the suspended Emmanuel Adebayor or the injured Robinho. Still, our blue neighbours would not entirely be deterred. Their 100 per cent start to the campaign, on the back of huge summer spending, has given rise to the belief (largely at Eastlands) that they are title challengers. At this stage at least, City are mere pretenders. And a large flag unveiled at the old scoreboard end before kick-off spelt it out simply, yet emphatically. Welcome to Manchester: 18 Premier League titles. 3 European Cups. 11 FA Cups. At the other end of the ground, the clock is clicking onto 34 years.
Sir Alex promised the game would be feisty, and that’s how it started. Tevez, typically tenacious, gave United an early fright when he blocked Ben Foster’s clearance, but from the resulting throw-in the Reds countered with Dimitar Berbatov, who slid an incisive pass into Rooney’s path. He was tackled by Micah Richards, but from a second throw-in City were caught out. Evra advanced along the byline unmarked before finding Rooney six yards out; he steadied himself with two blue shirts in close proximity and poked a shot through Shay Given’s legs. A dream start after just two minutes.
However, it was the high point in a frustrating half for United. After 17 minutes the Reds were pegged back – Tevez the goal’s architect. During two years at Old Trafford, United were well-accustomed to Tevez eagerly pestering opposition goalkeepers. And so – especially after an earlier warning – it was surprising that Foster didn’t clear his lines from a harmless blue ball forward. Instead, the Reds keeper hesitated, allowing Tevez to tackle him and lay the ball off for Gareth Barry, who side-footed past Nemanja Vidic on the line.
Despite the excellent start, the Reds enjoyed limited opportunities in front of goal for the remainder of the half. Berbatov saw a long-range effort go over and then couldn’t keep a header down from Giggs’ free-kick. City, with three central midfielders to United’s two, enjoyed a dominant share of possession, but they too lacked the guile to create. That is, until the final minute of the half when the ball was worked through to Tevez in the area. The Argentinian, with just Foster to beat, hit the post but that was largely due to Evra’s off-putting intervention.
Sir Alex is famed for his half-time motivational speeches, and this one must have been a corker because the Reds came back out with fire in their bellies. Within three minutes, Evra and Giggs combined well with the latter sending a deep cross to the far post, and Fletcher rose above the City defence to head past Given and make it advantage United again. Once more, though, City plucked something out of nothing to level the scores. Bellamy was allowed too much time on the ball and United were again ruthlessly punished as he cut inside and hit an unstoppable shot into Foster’s top corner.
United recognised the need for change on the hour mark and Sir Alex chose Antonio Valencia's direct threat on the right, replacing the energy of Park. The Ecuadorian earned a corner almost immediately, from which Berbatov forced a point-blank save from Given. A flurry of corners followed as United really began to turn the screw, with Given again denying a headed Berbatov effort from Giggs’ centre. “Attack, attack, attack,” came the cry from the Stretford End, seconds before the Welshman’s rifled shot forced another save from Given. United's baying fans sensed derby victory was there for the taking as the noise levels reached deafening decibels. Sir Alex sensed it, too, bringing on Owen in place of Berbatov to search for the all-important winner.
The goal soon arrived, and it was the same combination as before. Evra won a free-kick on the left, Giggs provided the curling delivery, and Fletcher headed home. It was nothing more than United deserved after a brilliant second-half display. Now the question was, with nine minutes remaining, could the Reds avoid handing City a route back into the match for a third time?
The answer, infuriatingly, was no. This time a sloppy pass from Ferdinand let in Bellamy and his pace took him away from the United no.5 before sliding the ball past Foster to level at 3-3. But whatever blame could be apportioned was dramatically and gloriously chalked off when Owen grabbed his late, late winner to end an enthralling derby in United's favour.
Report by Ben Hibbs
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