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 137 - 156 of 196

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  1. well Totallytv that was a really intelectual comment­ bet it took an hour or so and all of your 2 braincells­ to think of that huh you dumb Moron.

    From Eagle3777, on Sun 30 Nov 11:18PM

  2. ronaldo off at last oh be still my beating heart

    From chris, on Sun 30 Nov 11:01PM

  3. Muppetts

    From dellautoservices, on Sun 30 Nov 10:51PM

  4. hollyberry232001:

    YOU talk Sh**

    What a load of c rap.

    From D, on Sun 30 Nov 10:42PM

  5. WAN RONEY AS A SAX ECAN

    From dannysbac, on Sun 30 Nov 10:17PM

  6. MAN U IS THE GREATEST @#$%TER OF THE­ PREMIERSHIP

    ARSENAL IZ DA BEST!!!!!

    From Ripster, on Sun 30 Nov 10:08PM

  7. IRENEM THERE WAS A WHISTLE AND THE FIRST BOOKING SHOULD­ NOT HAVE HAPPENED MAN U ARE THE GREATEST TEAM WITH THE­ GRAETEST MANAGER GREATEST PLAYERS GREATEST FANS WHAT­ MORE IS THERE TO BE SAID, MAN U ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE­ THE GREATEST

    From irene, on Sun 30 Nov 10:02PM

  8. IRENEM THERE WAS A WHISTLE AND THE FIRST BOOKING SHOULD­ NOT HAVE HAPPENED MAN U ARE THE GREATEST TEAM WITH THE­ GRAETEST MANAGER GREATEST PLAYERS GREATEST FANS WHAT­ MORE IS THERE TO BE SAID, MAN U ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE­ THE GREATEST

    From irene, on Sun 30 Nov 9:58PM

  9. Ronaldo off at last. Oh, a whistle he heard, di he? Go­ to the doctor and get your ears tested mate. He­ deserves red, if only for that dive iin the Bolton­ game. Are they going to appeal against handball? This­ sounds like a schoolboy argument. Blah blah blah...

    From Eliot, on Sun 30 Nov 9:40PM

  10. im so chuffed that we beat the scum!!! blah blah blah­ this is our city, what ever, united are kings of­ europe, and theres nothing they can do about it!! 1-0!­ and its going to be the same at old trafford too,­ hopefully more goals though!
    whitters

    From aw563, on Sun 30 Nov 9:28PM

  11. manutd11185 'but i think fergie will appeal for­ roanldos 1 match man to be dismissed '

    Learn the­ rules mate, there's no appeal against yellow cards,­ only direct reds!

    From optimus prime, on Sun 30 Nov 9:26PM

  12. sappercommando how am i at fault for the game im only a­ fan and yes im a born and bred mancunian so im not a­ out of town utd fan like you thought and if you can­ name me any loyal players who play for who you support­ i will name you some loyal utd players who could of but­ didnt want to move as they knew the only way is down­ after utd giggs scholes neville etc need i say more

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 30 Nov 9:15PM

  13. I SEE LEON HAS GONE TO GET HIS SHOOT MAGS OUT TO GET A­ BIT OF SCOUSE HISTORY AND MAYBE GET A FEW FACTS RIGHT

    From smith276, on Sun 30 Nov 9:12PM

  14. and your point is sappercommando every footballer in­ the prem plays for the money the glory the next big­ move if they fancy it and if you think they dont your­ from another planet so get real mate cos all the fans­ know it they just dont want to beleive it all­ footballers have a shelf life at any club then they­ move on there is no loyalty except to money who do you­ support by the way oh and ronaldo didnt win much when­ he was at lisbon and do you think robinho went to city­ cos there a big club no he went for cash im a realist­ mate and your not nuff said

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 30 Nov 9:10PM

  15. manchester united dominated the game throughout, as for­ the sending off i personly think ronaldos first­ challenge was a foul but not a yellow card and i could­ also argue the he was protecting his face or that he­ heard a whistle before. but i think fergie will appeal­ for roanldos 1 match man to be dismissed just like­ chelsea appealed for terry, well done to the gunners­ although i hate the manager and think the players are­ cheats i still don't think they have the experiance­ nor qulity to win anythink this year and probaly for­ the upcoming years.

    From manutd11185, on Sun 30 Nov 9:05PM

  16. So lots of comments from worried scousers & hardly­ any from so called real Manc (city) fans; seems­ appropriate - City fans will still be crying in the­ Wastelands stadium and it's too cold for scousers­ to go out robbing.....or are those two metaphors just­ another nod in the direction of those who believe what­ they read in the Sun? Taling of which with all his­ boobs today Howard Webb should be on page 3!

    Ten men­ beat twelve in their own back yard - great stuff!­ Chelski fall to the gunners - come on West Ham!

    From jon.laughton, on Sun 30 Nov 8:41PM

  17. "including a second for Ronaldo who claimed he­ heard a whistle from the crowd before­ handling"

    whether he heard a whistle from the­ crowd or not, its still handball.

    From Simon, on Sun 30 Nov 8:34PM

  18. cityco69, comment 121,
    Before blowing that pathetic­ trumpet of yours, you should be looking at the facts on­ the ground. If memory serves me right, Manchester­ United are current European Champions with London­ Chelsea as runners up. As for Messi being the best­ player in the world, come on, get real. Where are your­ sources for that statement?

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 30 Nov 8:32PM

  19. dazmanutd, When you mention that players like Ronaldo­ only play for winners, then there must be a lack of­ loyalty then. If you love your club and support them on­ the field then this should be in victory and in defeat.­ Players should be as loyal to their clubs in all times,­ not just when there is success after success. That is­ exactly what is wrong in the game, players like Ronaldo­ only play for their own ridiculous, pathetic glorified­ self and not for the clubs. It is people like you who­ are at fault for the game being as pathetic as it is­ today.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 30 Nov 8:19PM

  20. A HAY A WEE DRANK PRABLAM THA PRABLAM AS A HAY NAY­ MANAEY TAY BUY ONY

    From dannysbac, on Sun 30 Nov 8:14PM
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