‘City Claim Emotional Derby Victory as Occasion Appears to Overwhelm United’
Manchester United 1 – 2 Manchester City – Sunday 10th February 2008 – Premier League
Manchester United’s title ambitions took a dent as neighbours and rivals City pulled off a shock in possibly the emotional derby of all time. With the game marking the fifty year anniversary of the Munich disaster in which eight former United players were killed in plane crash the home side were hoping to pay their respects in the greatest way with a morale boosting victory. They found Manchester City in no mood for sentiment however as first half goals from Darius Vassell and Benjani helped them claim an essential three points in their chase for a European place. A late strike from Michael Carrick came too late to inspire a fight back as United suffered their first double loss to their neighbours since 1970.
Before the game began great respects were paid to the victims of the Munich disaster by both teams. Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven Goran Eriksson laid wreaths in the centre circle with players wearing fittingly unsponsored unique kits for the occasion. The minutes silence before the kick off was impeccably observed as players bowed their heads in tribute to the twenty three lives lost fifty years ago to the week.
United began brightly with Ronaldo as ever the focal point of the home sides attacks, interchanging positions with Nani and Giggs the Portuguese defender kept Richards and Dunne on their toes with the young England defender lucky to get away with a needless handball just yards from the area. The home side, spurred on by the dramatic tributes before the game, tested Joe Hart early with a well worked move finding Giggs free at the back post. The veteran midfielder controlled before volleying the ball towards the goal forcing the City keeper to tip over the bar.
As the half went on United continued to threaten but it soon became obvious that City were growing in confidence and soon found themselves in the ascendency, much to the shock of the Old Trafford crowd. Eriksson’s employment a five man midfield prevented the home side playing their usual passing game and the match began to open up more and more. A cross from Fernandes which gave United trouble was a warning of things to come as Manchester City soon found themselves ahead of their neighbours thanks to Darius Vassell. A great ball from Petrov found Stephen Ireland and although Van Der Saar saved from the midfielder he blocked an original effort from Vassell which looked to be heading wide before the City forward swept the ball home with his left foot at the second time of asking.
The red half of Manchester was sprung into action and Ferguson’s men soon began testing their opponents. Hart was called into action again smartly palming a well taken Tevez volley away before Ronaldo fired a trademark free kick just over the bar. In open play Ronaldo also caused trouble with a left footed drive which Richard Dunne to clear from in front of his goalkeeper. Manchester United were still looking for the break through before half time but soon found themselves a second goal behind when debutant Benjani was given a free header after a poorly cleared corner. Petrov’s original set piece was headed away but the ball back in from the Bulgarian found the unmarked forward whose flick header evaded the grasp of Van Der Saar.
The fairytale for Manchester United was soon unravelling and coming out after the break two goals ahead City knew that their steely defence would be tested to the full. In truth United looked leggy and laboured as they aimed to break their closest rivals down as the City defence coped with everything that was thrown at them. Tremendous blocks from Dunne and Richards ensured that Tevez and Giggs continued to be thwarted, Michael Ball defended stoutly against Ronaldo who was in truth ineffectual and City could have been further ahead when Steven Ireland and Benjani had a two on one break away but were sloppy in finishing off the chance afforded to them.
City began to get deeper and deeper as United, roared on by their crowd, continued to look for a spark to jerk them into life. The two central defenders for Manchester City threw themselves into every block and tackle continually finding themselves ahead of a red shirt. United kept looking for gaps and a way through the tight backline of their neighbours, Tevez correctly had a goal ruled out for offside with twenty five minutes to go before a cross shot from Giggs just missed the back post.
City brought of Benjani and Petrov seemingly settling for what they had with ten minutes to go but were given a brief fright when Michael Carrick struck with a minute of normal time left in the game. Owen Hargreaves and Scholes were involved before the England midfielder picked the ball up on the edge of the box and beautifully curled the ball past the despairing Hart. Their efforts were too late however as even emergency striker Vidic was unable to get the best of the well marshalled City backline. A brilliantly time challenge from Richards in the final minute just as an attack looked promising for Manchester United summed up the game as the final whistle blew the blue half of Manchester celebrated a double over their rivals and a first win at Old Trafford in thirty years.
United began brightly with Ronaldo as ever the focal point of the home sides attacks, interchanging positions with Nani and Giggs the Portuguese defender kept Richards and Dunne on their toes with the young England defender lucky to get away with a needless handball just yards from the area. The home side, spurred on by the dramatic tributes before the game, tested Joe Hart early with a well worked move finding Giggs free at the back post. The veteran midfielder controlled before volleying the ball towards the goal forcing the City keeper to tip over the bar.
As the half went on United continued to threaten but it soon became obvious that City were growing in confidence and soon found themselves in the ascendency, much to the shock of the Old Trafford crowd. Eriksson’s employment a five man midfield prevented the home side playing their usual passing game and the match began to open up more and more. A cross from Fernandes which gave United trouble was a warning of things to come as Manchester City soon found themselves ahead of their neighbours thanks to Darius Vassell. A great ball from Petrov found Stephen Ireland and although Van Der Saar saved from the midfielder he blocked an original effort from Vassell which looked to be heading wide before the City forward swept the ball home with his left foot at the second time of asking.
The red half of Manchester was sprung into action and Ferguson’s men soon began testing their opponents. Hart was called into action again smartly palming a well taken Tevez volley away before Ronaldo fired a trademark free kick just over the bar. In open play Ronaldo also caused trouble with a left footed drive which Richard Dunne to clear from in front of his goalkeeper. Manchester United were still looking for the break through before half time but soon found themselves a second goal behind when debutant Benjani was given a free header after a poorly cleared corner. Petrov’s original set piece was headed away but the ball back in from the Bulgarian found the unmarked forward whose flick header evaded the grasp of Van Der Saar.
The fairytale for Manchester United was soon unravelling and coming out after the break two goals ahead City knew that their steely defence would be tested to the full. In truth United looked leggy and laboured as they aimed to break their closest rivals down as the City defence coped with everything that was thrown at them. Tremendous blocks from Dunne and Richards ensured that Tevez and Giggs continued to be thwarted, Michael Ball defended stoutly against Ronaldo who was in truth ineffectual and City could have been further ahead when Steven Ireland and Benjani had a two on one break away but were sloppy in finishing off the chance afforded to them.
City began to get deeper and deeper as United, roared on by their crowd, continued to look for a spark to jerk them into life. The two central defenders for Manchester City threw themselves into every block and tackle continually finding themselves ahead of a red shirt. United kept looking for gaps and a way through the tight backline of their neighbours, Tevez correctly had a goal ruled out for offside with twenty five minutes to go before a cross shot from Giggs just missed the back post.
City brought of Benjani and Petrov seemingly settling for what they had with ten minutes to go but were given a brief fright when Michael Carrick struck with a minute of normal time left in the game. Owen Hargreaves and Scholes were involved before the England midfielder picked the ball up on the edge of the box and beautifully curled the ball past the despairing Hart. Their efforts were too late however as even emergency striker Vidic was unable to get the best of the well marshalled City backline. A brilliantly time challenge from Richards in the final minute just as an attack looked promising for Manchester United summed up the game as the final whistle blew the blue half of Manchester celebrated a double over their rivals and a first win at Old Trafford in thirty years.