By Football Talk.
Paul Scholes scored an injury time winner to keep Manchester United’s title dreams alive and dent Manchester City’s hopes of finishing fourth. In one of the most important Manchester derby’s in recent years, Manchester United came out on top once again thanks to another late winner, with United veteran Scholes being the hero.
Wayne Rooney was declared fit to start but the England striker was clearly not 100%. He seemed a frustrated figure during the first half and was lucky to escape punishment for a bad foul on De Jong.
Rooney also missed United’s best chance of the half after dragging a left shot wide from 10 yards after beating Toure in the box.
Chances were at a premium with most of the play in midfield. Valencia was causing problems for City and his cross found Giggs in the area but he could only poke the ball straight at Given.
Bellamy was posing the main threat for City and he put in a couple of dangerous low balls across the face of United’s box, but the City strike force of Adebayor and Tevez were not on hand to tap home.
Man Utd old-boy Carlos Tevez went close with a free-kick but Van Der Sar did well to save his 30 yard effort which looked to be heading for the top corner. That was City’s only real shot at United’s goal and the first half ended goal-less, but Sir Alex Ferguson will be the happier of the two managers and his side should really have been in front at the break.
The second half was largely the same as the first, with plenty of effort and strong tackles, but very little goal mouth action.
Wayne Rooney was benig well marshaled by the Manchester City backline but he did himself no favours after a challenge by Kompany caught him on the foot, he rolled around in agony but after he noticed the referee was brandishing a yellow card to the City defender, he jumped to his feet and jogged off. Very poor sportsmanship from Rooney.
As Manchester United started to push for a winner, City began to exploit the space being left at the back. Tevez, Adebayor and Bellamy broke and found themselves 3-on-3 which ended with Bellamy crashing a shot into the side netting when it would probably have been a better option to square for Tevez.
City then had a penalty appeal turned down after Barry cut inside Neville the Manchester United captain stuck out a leg, Barry made the most of it and possibly why they didn’t get the decision as there was slight contact.
The game had really opened up and Man City went close again with only 5 minutes left. Van Der Sar missed a corner from Bellamy that resulted in a goal-mouth scramble with Fletcher and Vidic doing well to clear.
The action looked to be over but as the Sky commentator announced that it looked as though this would be the first time in premier league history that Manchester United had drawn two games in a row 0-0, you just knew there was going to be a late winner.
Bellamy gifted possession back to United when his cross field ball was intercepted on the half way line. Obertan found Evra free on the left and his cross was met by the unmarked Scholes to head home from 8 yards.
0-1 Scholes (90+3)
Not for the first time this season, Manchester United had beaten City at the death. A draw would surly have gifted the title to Chelsea, but the win puts Manchester United only 1 point behind the league leaders, who play at Spurs later on this evening. So the title race is still on.
While Manchester City stay fourth and will be hoping Chelsea can do them a favour at White Hart Lane.
Will this win push United on to a fourth consecutive title? Will City bounce back and qualify for the champions league? Leave your opinions below….
