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 117 - 136 of 196

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  1. id like to ask cityco69 if messi his so good how come­ ronaldo did the double and won numerous other awards­ for last season barca won jack so stop talking out of­ your backside you know you would love to have him at­ barca but it wont happen as ronaldo plays for winners­ mate not losers ha ha

    From DAZGGMU-RED-LEGEND-OF-YAHOO, on Sun 30 Nov 8:10PM

  2. why do so called fans who no nothing about the team­ they claim to support right on these pages

    From craigwise70, on Sun 30 Nov 8:05PM

  3. The bottom line is that there shall only ever be the­ usual 4 up there in the table, which has made the game­ rather monotenous and boring. I find the relegation­ battles far more interesting as the sides in the­ relegation zone have it all to lose and nothing to­ gain. This makes for very interesting and fiesty­ encounters at the end of the season.
    The game is all­ about money in the end and not about the people or the­ dwellings they are forced to languish in. Look at­ Anfield for example, what a great stadium in the middle­ of a slum. Another example of this is at Ibrox in­ Scotland....a lovely ground in the middle of a shithole­ of Glasgow's Southside.
    The average people in the­ street have nothing to gain from this sad, ridiculous­ facade and the game is nothing but that now....a­ ridiculous facade.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 30 Nov 8:04PM

  4. Why do city never serve any hot drinks @ there home­ games, cos all the cups are @ utd & the mugs are on­ the pitch, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then again when was­ the last time city had a cup of any sort??????????

    From NOEL B, on Sun 30 Nov 7:56PM

  5. leon h best have a look in your history book mate cos­ scousers have'nt won the league cup 18 times i­ think you will find thats a different competition to­ the league liverpool fan what ever.

    From craigwise70, on Sun 30 Nov 7:55PM

  6. darklove, comment 129,
    This is true what you are­ stating here but in the end, every player dives if he­ thinks there is a very good chance of turning the game­ around in his teams favour. It has sadly become a part­ of the modern game now. The continentals, for all their­ skill are pathetic for their on field antics. The­ situation has now become very sad that one player has­ so much influence over the officials, making the game­ very unpredictable. Winning at all costs is now part of­ the fabric of modern society and not just confined to­ the soccer field. It has become acceptable to cheat­ ones way through life in society in general as the­ younger generations have adopted the wrong type of­ leading figures.

    From sappercommando25, on Sun 30 Nov 7:54PM

  7. Oh yes I've heard of Gerrard and Caragher Leon H.­ But who have Liverpool produced since then? ;)

    Once­ an annoying, ignorant, cocky, stupid, dissilussioned­ scouser... always one

    From miniroll32, on Sun 30 Nov 7:53PM

  8. wombat well the name says it all really

    From craigwise70, on Sun 30 Nov 7:47PM

  9. why did the ref give united another corner after he­ sent ronaldo off ? he was waiting for a chance to send­ him off after ronaldo clapped him

    From andyreilly11, on Sun 30 Nov 7:47PM

  10. i was disappointed utd didn,t win at villa last week so­ todays win at sadlands was oh so sweet....welldone­ rooney on reaching 100 goals.

    From m.fowler771, on Sun 30 Nov 7:42PM

  11. darklove. never has a truer word been spoken on this­ forum. gerrard always dives to win penaltys as he did­ in the champions league against atletico madrid

    From nheavey, on Sun 30 Nov 7:42PM

  12. never mind ronaldo being a cheat. so is gerrard. he­ dives like a trooper.. its a joke. the only reason its­ not highlighted is because he's an english­ "hero". ronaldo does dive wayyyy too much and­ this is from a united supporter but come on.. anyone­ who says gerrard doesn't dive is a liar

    From rob, on Sun 30 Nov 7:29PM

  13. So Daniel Agger is an example of Liverpool's­ "home grown talent" you say leon h? I never­ knew Copenhagen had become part of Merseyside...

    From dr_uldenia, on Sun 30 Nov 7:27PM

  14. why is there a scouse on this forum anyway. since when­ did they learn to use th internet. and leon... when was­ the last time ye won the league as a matter of­ interest?

    From nheavey, on Sun 30 Nov 7:14PM

  15. WELL SAID BOYS ENOUGH OF THIS SCOUSE @#$%, SKY ONE NOW­ ROONEY ON

    From smith276, on Sun 30 Nov 7:13PM

  16. Leon H - Go back to playing Pro Evolution Soccer. It­ seem's to be your ideal reality

    From miniroll32, on Sun 30 Nov 7:08PM

  17. 5 Euro Cups.....................YAWN

    No Premiership­ Titles...........HAHAHAHAHAHA

    The Only Way A Scouser­ Can Get His Hands On The Prem Trophy Is To Nick It From­ Uniteds Massive Trophy Cabinet

    From Bobby Orange, on Sun 30 Nov 7:08PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Barca is the best club in the world,there is no match!­ Man u,chelsea,Arsenal and liverpool are no match to­ Catalan super team! Ronaldo is not a match to­ messi...Messi is the best player in the world,comes­ rain comes shine! FORCA BARCA!

    From FlirtiStarr6699, on Sun 30 Nov 7:06PM

  19. leon WOULD NOT STEP FOOT IN THAT @#$% PIT IF IT WAS THE­ LAST CLUB I COULD CRAWL TO.

    From smith276, on Sun 30 Nov 6:50PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Smith276...
    Have a look in the trophy room at anfield,­ that Euro cup stays for good,forever, we'll have­ your one year one in may , 18 league cups....SCUMMY­ Tw$%...

    From leon h, on Sun 30 Nov 6:43PM
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