Manchester United Vs. Manchester City Result Report

Michael Carrick's late goal was not enough to make up the first-half advantage Darius Vassell and Benjani Mwaruwari gave to Manchester City, as the Reds face up to a second derby defeat of the season.

The match was preceded by a moving minute’s silence to the 23 people who lost their lives in Munich fifty years ago. But, come the final whistle, City had all the reason they needed to make plenty of noise.

United seriously missed the energy and attacking intent of Patrice Evra and the spirit and skill of Wayne Rooney, both suspended. It could be a case that the occasion got to United, possibly the events of the past week heaped too much expectation on the match itself. Whatever the reason, the Reds didn't reach anything like top form.

The Reds started brightly enough and enjoyed the first share of the chances. Giggs volleyed narrowly over after eight minutes, then a great move involving the Welshman and Cristiano Ronaldo ended with Carlos Tevez being denied a shot by a last-ditch Richard Dunne tackle.

But there was to be no fairytale beginning and a stark reminder that United were in the cut and thrust of a Manchester derby was given resonance 24 minutes in when City took the lead. A posse of blue shirts surged forward, culminating in Martin Petrov cutting an incisive route through United’s defence to pick out Stephen Ireland. His shot was saved by Edwin van der Sar, as was Darius Vassell’s initial follow-up, but the City striker pounced quickest on the loose ball, finding a way through a clutch of red shirts to put the visitors in front.

There was an understandable air of frustration among Reds supporters, not just at being behind to blue rivals. City pressed and pressure United, whose passing was not as crisp as usual.

The Reds pushed on regardless and were close on numerous occasions to levelling before the break. Tevez had a wonderful turn and volley stopped by an outstanding Joe Hart save, Ronaldo sent one of his arrowed free-kicks marginally over the bar and then fired wide from the edge of the area with a low, left-footed shot. Nemanja Vidic also went close as he stabbed a shot wide from Rio Ferdinand’s scuffed shot.

However, City dealt a cruel blow seconds before the half time whistle with a second goal. After only half clearing the danger from a corner, Petrov, who had proved a real thorn in United’s side, sent in another wicked cross which Benjani Mwaruwari glanced into the far corner. On both occasions City’s goals came after spells of United pressure. Nevertheless, it was their ruthlessness in front of goal that reaped dividends.

In the second half United forced City back, but the football still wasn’t free-flowing. Tevez had the ball in the back of the net on 56 minutes, but it was disallowed for offside. But by the hour mark frustration began to permeate down from the stands. United’s decision-making didn’t seem to be going to plan, and the loose ball always seemed to find its way to a blue shirt. But United couldn’t afford to wallow in self-pity.

Ji-sung Park replaced Nani after 65 minutes to bring some fresh impetus to the Reds attack, then Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves came on for O’Shea and Anderson respectively with little over 15 minutes remaining.

A United goal did arrive, 90 seconds into three minutes of added time, as Carrick wonderfully stroked the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards. But it was but a flicker of hope. Too little, too late.

A derby defeat is always hard to take, and this, City’s first win here since 1974 when Denis Law scored for the opposition, was especially tough to swallow because Sir Alex Ferguson’s side simply didn’t give a good account of themselves.

But if there was one thing that United have learned since 6 February 1958, it is that this is a club that keeps on going, even through adversity. This defeat is a setback for the Reds, but United still have an excellent opportunity to go on honouring the traditions instilled by Matt Busby’s Babes – attacking, entertaining and successful football. And that is why, as the fans put it, United will never die. The legacy lives on.

Team Line-ups

Manchester United: Van der Sar; Brown , Ferdinand, Vidic, O’Shea (Carrick 73); Ronaldo, Scholes, Anderson (Hargreaves 73), Nani (Park 65); Giggs, Tevez.
Subs not used: Kuszczak, Simpson.

Manchester City: Hart; Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Ball; Ireland, Fernandes, Hamann (Sun Jihai 84), Petrov (Garrido 88); Benjani (Caceido 76), Vassell.
Subs not used: Isaksson, Geovanni.

Attendance: 75,970