ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:Manchester Utd 4 Manchester City 3: THE MONEY stoked the passion. All that investment in Manchester City certainly bought a wealth of persistence, as they notched three equalisers, but their opponents raged against all efforts to question their superiority.
A startling game, crammed with mistakes, saw the reigning champions take the lead for the last time in the sixth minute of stoppage time, although only four had been indicated.
City, having come up with three equalisers, are brooding over referee Martin Atkinson’s extension of the action, but it is just that they were never able to stifle United. The decider was claimed by the substitute Michael Owen, with an expert finish across goalkeeper Shay Given after a pass from the superb Ryan Giggs.
There has been debate over the signing of Owen, but this impact as a lethal specialist more than vindicated his involvement.
It was an occasion of delirious, thrilling mayhem, but one man enjoyed the greatest impact of all by remaining studied. Giggs had a cameo in the opener and took a key role in the other three goals.
Regardless of the resentment and the galling knowledge that not even a third leveller, from Craig Bellamy in the 90th minute, could secure a point, this match did City some credit. Alex Ferguson would have you believe that a series of bungles caused United’s difficulties, but that was an acceptable account mostly of the second half.
City had been incisive and Bellamy, who would eventually score twice, was too vibrant for Ferguson’s defence to subdue.
Antonio Valencia had already been introduced before Owen took the field. He was there, instead of Park Ji-sung, because United were out to harry City. It was then, with the score at 2-2, that Hughes’ team began to act as if they would settle for a share of the points. That attitude has led a lot of visitors into harm in this arena.
In retrospect, Hughes might feel he overreacted by switching Stephen Ireland towards the left to keep an eye on Valencia.
City, who had tied the score at 2-2 in the 52nd minute, unravelled even if they still had opportunities sporadically. Once the character of the game changed, Given had to make a series of excellent saves as Giggs picked out team-mates at will. Darren Fletcher would score twice from the Welshman’s deliveries.
After two minutes Patrice Evra bounded on to a Giggs throw-in to set up Wayne Rooney. The striker then dashed between Kolo Toure and Nigel de Jong to finish.
City’s first leveller saw the unimpressive Ben Foster trying to take a loose City pass into his area instead of thumping it into the stands. Foster could not grasp the ball cleanly and City’s terrier of a forward Carlos Tevez knocked it into the path of Gareth Barry, who rolled the ball home calmly.
The visitors’ sweetest move then saw Toure rob Rooney and a turning Stephen Ireland roll a pass to Tevez. The Argentinian clipped the post with his finish in the 45th minute. That was a high-water mark, because City dipped thereafter, as if survival were the sole target.
After 49 minutes Evra fed Giggs and from a deep cross Fletcher climbed above a static Barry to nod in at the far post.
This, all the same, is a City side with persistence. After 52 minutes Bellamy moved across John O’Shea and, from the fringes of the area, lashed a drive high beyond the left hand of Foster.
Giggs, from a set piece, picked out the head of Fletcher, who re-established the advantage 10 minutes from the end.
The duel should have ended there, but Foster’s fallibility could not be concealed. Rio Ferdinand lost possession and Bellamy raced down the left to squeeze a shot past the goalkeeper.
The Welshman’s efforts were in vain, but City’s rivalry with United may reach an intensity it has seldom seen before.
Guardian Service
