Amazing!!

By Chris,
September 21 2009

Manchester United claimed a simply phenomenal derby-day win over Citeh on Sunday afternoon. Michael Owen lashed home the winner during the sixth minute of injury-time as the Red Devils won a truly astonishing match 4-3. Owen’s last-gasp strike was the fourth time United had taken the lead during a pulsating ninety minutes at Old Trafford.

Manchester derbies, of course, always carry a certain edge. However, there was something different about Sunday's encounter. City arrived with billions in the bank, hoping to prove themselves genuine title contenders with a positive result against their neighbours.

The inclusion of Carlos Tevez added plenty of spice, with the Argentinean booed from all four ends by home supporters. So often, United have pinched top talent from their Premier League rivals, with the names of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand instantly springing to mind. Tevez, however, made the opposite move and quit Old Trafford to join filthy-rich City. A giant flag in the Scoreboard End reminded the forward of the impressive trophy cabinet he was leaving behind by swapping the Theatre of Dreams for Eastlands.

Any fears that United fans had of a new-look, much-fancied City side bossing proceedings soon dwindled in the opening two minutes, however. Patrice Evra did some brilliant work down the left flank, squaring the ball for Rooney who slotted a cool finish beyond the reach of Given.

The hosts controlled the opening quarter-hour and looked on their way to a familiar and comfortable victory until a sloppy error from Ben Foster shifted the game's balance. United's England stopper failed to clear a tame forward pass on the edge of his box, Tevez robbed him of the ball and squared for Gareth Barry who slotted home from just outside the penalty area.

United were shell-shocked, and suddenly it was City who were playing with all the momentum as they ended the opening period stronger. Tevez, himself, should have put Sparky's men ahead when he hit the post from close-range, but United hung on as the two sides went down the tunnel level at the break.

After a severe talking to from Sir Alex, the Reds showed renewed vigour after the break and re-took the lead after only three second-half minutes. Ryan Giggs rolled back the years with some immense trickery on the left, before sending in a superb chipped cross that met Darren Fletcher's head before hitting the back of Given's net.

United's jubilation, however, lasted only a few minutes. Craig Bellamy, quiet throughout the first-half, steamed down the left-wing, sold Ji-Sung Park a dummy before curling home a truly immense effort from the edge of the penalty area. City's travelling 3,000 went crazy and United's supporters were left to accept that our rivals, so often mocked for their lack of success, look real contenders this season.

United, however, staged the perfect response and went onto dominate the rest of the game. Literally dozens of chances went begging, with Dimitar Berbatov unlucky not to hit the net on a number of occasions. Given was in inspired form - and he didn't deserve to concede four, but City's expensive back four weren't good enough in the end. It looked as if City may cling on as their ‘keeper pulled off countless saves, denying Giggs' powerful effort and pulling off an incredible save to block a Berbatov header, before Fletcher hit the net again with only ten minutes left. Giggs was once again the provider, with Fletcher meeting his free-kick with a goal bound header.

That looked to be that - until a moment of madness from £30million centre-back Rio Ferdinand handed City their third goal of an incredible afternoon. His casual chip found Martin Petrov, who laid the ball down the flank to a quick-footed Bellamy. The Welshman showed Ferdinand a clean pair of heels, before tucking the ball under Foster from an acute angle.

As City celebrated, the board from the fourth official showed four minutes of added time. However, a combination of Bellamy's celebration, a United substitution and a few mini stoppages added further time to that. It was time enough for Owen to latch onto Giggs' excellent pass and drill the ball beyond a stunned Given. There'd been 327 seconds of added time at that point - and OT went absolutely, totally bananas. There have rarely been such scenes of absolute joy as players ran all over the place in sheer delight.

The mood was soured slightly when Bellamy appeared to make physical contact with a pitch-invading Reds supporter, and an F.A investigation is pending. However - the bottom line is that United claimed an incredible victory with one of their most amazing late goals in memory. Wow!

Full Time - Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City
Attendance - 75,066