Premier League - Rooney silences City

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Dec 07:37:00 2008

Wayne Rooney's first-half goal proved decisive as Manchester United beat Manchester City 1-0 at Eastlands in a game that saw Cristiano Ronaldo sent-off in the second-half.

2008-2009 Manchester City-Manchester United Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring - 0

Rooney struck three minutes before the break, tapping home from close range after Joe Hart parried Michael Carrick's shot.

Ronaldo saw red midway through the second period, bizarrely handling the ball above his head from a corner shortly after being booked for a trip on Shaun Wright-Phillips.

City did the double over United last season but it was the visitors who dominated possession and Rooney really should have done better inside seven minutes when he scuffed a shot which Hart made a hash of saving.

Ronaldo then rose high above Micah Richards but his header was just over the top and Hart did better when he flung himself full length to his right to claw Dimitar Berbatov's header around the post.

There was another chance for United when the ball broke to Patrice Evra in the penalty area but his curling effort was tipped over by Hart although a goal kick was given.

The closest City came in the opening period was on the half hour when Edwin Van der Sar failed to deal with a free-kick and his punch fell to Stephen Ireland whose scuffed effort clipped the outside of the post.

Richards could have poked the ball home from five yards but failed to react in time, perhaps worried about an offside flag going up.

Berbatov then dragged an effort past the post before Rooney struck for his 100th career goal.

Pablo Zabaleta and Blumer Elano replaced Dietmar Hamann and Darius Vassell for the start of the second-half but City failed to force a single save from Van der Sar.

Wright-Phillips did thread a ball through to Benjani whose first-time effort nestled in the side netting and Javier Garrido's free-kick just curled past the post but Robinho in particular was subdued.

Indeed it was referee Howard Webb who became the central figure for much of the second-half as he dished out eight yellow cards in total including a second for Ronaldo who claimed he heard a whistle from the crowd before handling.

City came closest to levelling in injury-time when after United failed to clear a corner, Richard Dunne's shot was cleared off his own line by Evra.

In a dramatic finish, United raced up the other end and Rooney attempted to curl a shot into the net from just inside City's half but Hart, who had gone up for the corner, raced back and clawed the effort away from under his crossbar.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

Comment 177 - 196 of 196

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  1. pt 172 the old firm are two of the biggest clubs in­ britain not just scotland idiot stadiums and support to­ match. u lot dont want us cos you know our potential ya­ clown. away and glory hunt ya armchair supporter

    From norman.haig, on Wed 3 Dec 10:58PM

  2. I read through these posts and see nothing but bitter­ and twisted people spouting verbal Diarrhoea.
    League 17­ Times Winners
    FA Cup 11 Times Winners
    League Cup 2­ Times Winners
    Charity Shield 17 Times Winners
    European­ Cup 3 Times Winners
    plus 3 misc euro/international cup­ winners

    Only Liverpool can beat some of these totals,­ but the majority of theirs came pre 90s.
    ManU is­ currently the most succesful Premiership Team FACT, not­ matter what anyone says, You can't get these stats­ without being the best team, so hop off to your own­ team chats and concentrate on them..

    From redimaster, on Mon 1 Dec 8:26PM

  3. ripster comment 153 you live in la la land what have­ arsnal won in the last three­ years??????????????????????????????

    From william p, on Mon 1 Dec 5:59PM

  4. ASXTC, my point exactly...

    From snoop338, on Mon 1 Dec 3:50PM

  5. Jingle bells, jingle bells,
    Jingle all the way,
    Oh what­ fun it is to see,
    United win away!!!!

    From United, kids, wife, on Mon 1 Dec 3:37PM

  6. "ferdinand says it was a push, but ronaldo and­ fergie heard a whistle who's telling­ porkies."
    Just watch the nice people at Sky's­ slo-mo replay. There is no-one anywhere near him and­ there is no whistle.

    From Andy, on Mon 1 Dec 2:18PM

  7. I'm an open minded bloke from the UK, I'm­ interested in.....things, Britney, Burger King and­ Golf...I don't have any photos on --- Tallhub Co m­ ---, because I'm not tall enough!
    Do you love­ travelling and have some experience? Just find me­ out.
    Should have got sent off for applauding the ref,­ the arrogant @#$%.

    From Andy, on Mon 1 Dec 2:16PM

  8. ferdinand says it was a push, but ronaldo and fergie­ heard a whistle who's telling porkies.

    From snoop338, on Mon 1 Dec 2:03PM

  9. Why do people who post replies on this thread always­ have to shout!!!!!!

    From Steveh, on Mon 1 Dec 12:54PM

  10. ive just read some of these comentsfrom you red fans­ and not one of you as mentioned the synical fouls­ fletcher ronaldo evra and vidic made on S W P,EVERY ONE­ OF THEM BROKE DOWN A CITY ATTACK AND IF THE REF HOWARD­ WEBB OR MORE LIKE (COWARD WEBB)HAD MORE BACKBONE IN HIM­ YOU SHOULD HAVE ENDED UP WITH ONLY 8 OR 9 PLAYING AT­ THE END

    From philip o, on Mon 1 Dec 12:20PM

  11. Eliot or is it idiiot the only bit of your comment that­ made sense was the Blah blah blah...

    From doctorfeelgoodcanvey, on Mon 1 Dec 11:15AM

  12. Whats all the fuss about Ronaldo send-off! He's the­ first class striker guys on the other side @#$%­ whenever he's near the goal. Ronaldo is no Drogba,­ the ever-wailing Rampad or Maroon Da!

    Padiem mwicigi,­ Nairobi, Kenya

    From pm.njoroge, on Mon 1 Dec 10:55AM

  13. what a game ronaldo was great at stopping that ball­ hitting his adams apple an how scruffy does wayne­ rooney look balding thee age of twenty wot an that­ ginger shabite on his face come on... i bet his kit­ @#$% hums

    From Jasoptimum851, on Mon 1 Dec 9:32AM

  14. Whats all the talk about Ronaldo, there was an­ Englishman that outshone everyone by the name of­ Rooney, his movement and contribution was first class.

    From rabid421, on Mon 1 Dec 9:18AM

  15. ALL THESE PPL MOANING AND WHINGING ABOUT RONALDO LIKE­ BIG GIRLS BLOUSES, WOULD LOVE HIM IN THEIR TEAM.

    From L H, on Mon 1 Dec 8:50AM

  16. rich city i hope u go bottom!!!

    From occ_9o, on Mon 1 Dec 8:36AM

  17. city r @#$% @#$% never won nowt never will end ov

    From charney, on Mon 1 Dec 8:32AM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    dazmanutd, The first and only loyalty should be to­ yourself and no one or anything else. You British have­ no idea what loyalty really is.

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 1 Dec 8:27AM

  19. dazmanutd, comment 145: so you are a realist then. In­ what field are you that real? Oh and by the way, I­ support my team of legs as they have SUPPORTED me all­ my life......realist....your a @#$% joke.....

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 1 Dec 8:25AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hollyberry232001, comment 152:
    Is your brain that small­ you poor thing? Shall I send you some brain cells to­ keep your lonely braincell company....lol...

    From sappercommando25, on Mon 1 Dec 8:22AM
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