A weekend derby just after the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash. Emotion was running high in the United camp and the Red Devils were expected to notch up another win to go ahead of Arsenal and deal City’s chances of European football a jolt.
Both the teams were without key players. United were without Rooney while Elano Blumer, Michael Johnson, Nery Castillo and Valeri Bojinov were missing from the City starting lineup. United were numbered 1-11 instead of their usual shirt numbers, and both the teams wore plain jerseys without the logos of their sponsors.
United had the better chances early in the first half, with Joe Hart having to tip over Ryan Giggs’ acute angled strike. United enjoyed possession and looked to get forward, with City happy to rely on their defence. Cristiano Ronaldo was tripped by Didi Hamann in the box, but referee Howard Webb waved away the penalty appeal. And it was City who took the lead. Martin Petrov’s defence splitting pass in the direction of Stephen Ireland was foiled by Edwin Van Der Sar, who was again forced into action by Darius Vassell. However Vassell had a second chance, and the former Villa striker put it away with his left foot. 1-0 to City. Petrov has been brilliant for City on the left wing this season, a spot where they have been struggled to fill in the past. United responded immediately with a screamer from Tevez, but Joe Hart was up to the task. Ronaldo’s 25 yard freekick was off target, and City defended a shot from Rio Ferdinand. And near half time, it was City who again took the lead. Once again it was Petrov, whose pass needed Van Der Sar to rush forward to prevent Gelson Fernandes from reaching it. The resulting corner was headed away by Ronaldo, but Petrov and City made no mistake the second time around. A variation in the set play saw the ball being passed to Petrov from the edge of the area and the former Wolfsburg man’s cross was headed home by debutant Benjani. Brown, Vidic and Ferdinand failed to intercept, and Van Der Sar could do little but helplessly dive and watch it go in. More than Benjani’s header, it was the quality of Petrov’s cross that was responsible for the goal.
City headed into half time, hoping to do the double over their opponents for the first time since 1969/1970. As soon as the second half began, Dietmar Hamann attempted an ambitious shot from long range. The German’s shot was intercepted by EVDS, but it was a sign that City weren’t averse to experimenting. Rio Ferdinand was guilty of giving the ball away to Ireland on the half way line, but the City midfielder was unable to finish the move, opting to pass to Benjani instead of going for goal himself.United pounded away at City in the second half, but were denied by some outstanding defending from Richard Dunne and Micah Richards. Nedum Onuha was impressive, putting in tackles at the right time. United had a Carlos Tevez goal disallowed for offside, and Ferguson rung in the changes, bringing on Park, Hargreaves and Carrick. When going into the box didn’t seem to work, the Red Devils tried their hand at long range shots, but the result was the same.
Benjani was replaced by another debutant Felipe Caicedo, who could pass off for Micah Richards’ brother. United eventually got a consolation goal through Carrick, but it was not enough to prevent them from suffering their fourth defeat of the season, and their first in 2008.
As for City, they jump to sixth place, ahead of Liverpool, who face Chelsea today evening.
MoM- IMO either Dunne or Petrov.