United deservedly won this pulsating derby in the high drama of injury time, but only after fans' nerves had been put through the mill having let City back into the game three times. The Reds should have had it wrapped up, but with the scores locked at 3-3 after 90 minutes, Michael Owen chose the most opportune time to hit his first Old Trafford goal.
Rooney had given the Reds the lead, only for Tevez to capitalise on Foster's error and set up Gareth Barry's equaliser. 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.
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 other end of the ground, the clock clicks onto 34 years.
Source : Man Utd
