As we well know Manchester United and City have won the last 2 Premier League titles. Going into Sunday’s match at the Etihad, United fans were thinking of nothing but revenge for losing the title and goals, because they know how important it is to score more than once in a derby-match.
City started the game well, controlling the ball with poise and ease. It seemed that Roberto Mancini at first made a great decision by starting Mario Balotelli who looked dangerous early-on. However Balotelli failed to score with an early chance and his performance went downhill after that.
Wayne Rooney though kept his composure the whole game and scored in the 17th minute to tie alongside Sir Bobby Charlton in derby goals for United. Perhaps Joe Hart should have saved the shot, which to the agony of City fans slowly crept into the net!
Then in the 29th minute everything in the Etihad went quiet as Rooney got his second and became the youngest man to score 150 Premier League goals thanks to a beautiful cross from Rafael on the right-hand side.
At half-time the City fans were quiet. You can imagine in the dressing-room that Mancini was blowing his head off to his players who were 2-0 down and on the verge of going 6 points behind United.
At the start of the half, Balotelli got benched with Carlos Tevez coming on. All of a sudden it seemed that a coin had flipped as United’s defence couldn’t control him. The quietness went from City’s fans and the Tevez’s intensity grew on the crowd who woke up when Yaya Toure scored. It was the midfielder’s third goal of the season and a vital one at that.
It was a goal that was harsh on United as Robin van Persie was about to make his name known to City, but a post denied him with Ashley Young’s shot on the rebound going in, only to be ruled out for offside.
City levelled five minutes from time when Zabaleta scored after van Persie’s header fell to him from a corner and it seemed that United had had all the wind taken out of them.
In injury-time Tevez stupidly fouled Rafael on the edge of the box, giving United the ever so decisive moment of the game. On the free-kick van Persie wasn’t to be denied this time as his effort was deflected in for the winner. It was van Persie’s 11th league goal of the season.
In the end this match was like two sides of coin and just when City thought they were going to win, the coin flipped again on United’s side and Van Persie showed City just what they missed out on in the summer.
By Harold Hershman @hhdj89
