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Report by Ben HibbsUnited deservedly won the derby in high drama in injury time after three times letting City back into the game. The Reds should have had it wrapped up, but with the scores locked at 3-3 after 90 minutes, Michael Owen popped with a late, late winner.
Rooney had given the Reds the lead, only for Tevez to capitalise on Foster's error as Gareth Barry equalised. Darren Fletcher then twice put United in front, but Craig Bellamy twice equalised, then substitute Owen latched on to the outstanding Ryan Giggs's throughball and, in the sixth minute of injury time in a pulsating derby, poked home the winner.
It was certainly a game of two halves as, despite United's rapid start, it was City who had most of the possession before the break. But the victory was wholly justified as United's second half performance was full of class.
United’s team had a similar look to the side that took Tottenham Hotspur apart a week ago; the only change being Ji-sung Park in for Paul Scholes.
As the City players took to the field for their warm-up, the boos that normally greet their Old Trafford visits were that little bit louder as Carlos Tevez had miraculously (or not) 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. A large flag unveiled in the old scoreboard end before kick-off spelt it out emphatically. Welcome to Manchester: 18 Premier League titles. 3 European Cups. 11 FA Cups.at the ground, the clock clicks 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 Wayne Rooney’s path. Rooney was tackled by Micah Richards, but from a second throw-in City were caught out. Evra advanced along the byline unmarked before finding Rooney, who 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, we 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 keeper a header down from Giggs’ free-kick. City, with three central midfielders to United’s two, enjoyed a dominant share of midfield 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.
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