Darius Vassell and new-boy Benjani scored the goals as Manchester City beat United 2-1 for their first league win at Old Trafford since 1974.On an emotional derby day, which began with an impeccably observed minute's silence for the victims of the Munich air disaster 50 years ago, it was City who claimed the three Premier League points.
In doing so, Sven-Goran Eriksson's men also claimed their first league 'double' over United since the 1969-70 season. They return to sixth place in the table.
United, who had been protecting an unbeaten home record this season, could now find themselves five points off top spot if leaders Arsenal beat Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
The Red Devils were without the suspended Wayne Rooney but still made a lively start, with Joe Hart called into action to tip over a Ryan Giggs volley early on.
However, in the 25th minute, City forged ahead. Stephen Ireland found Martin Petrov and raced on into the box to take the return.
The ball broke to Vassell who saw his first shot hit Edwin van der Sar, but he was quickly onto the rebound to blast the ball home, sending City's hordes wild.
United hit back and Hart saved superbly from a Carlos Tevez shot on the turn.
Then Cristiano Ronaldo saw a shot from the edge of the box deflected wide as United's pressure mounted. In the confusion following the corner, Nemanja Vidic stabbed wide from close in.
But a minute from the break, City went two ahead. Petrov's angled cross was flicked on by Benjani, the ball squeezing just inside the far post. It was the second time this season the Zimbabwean has scored against United, the first being for Portsmouth.
Tevez thought he had pulled one back when he turned in a deflection, but he was correctly ruled offside.
John O'Shea was booked for a late tackle on Vassell after 57 minutes before Ireland should have made better use of a break out after he intercepted a pass, but he failed to find Benjani or Gelson Fernandes.
City continued to sit back and frustrate United, with Micah Richards and Richard Dunne heroic in defence.
Sir Alex Ferguson threw on Ji-Sung Park, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick as time ticked on, and it was the latter who finally brought United back into the game with a 92nd-minute goal.
Following a Paul Scholes pass, Carrick bent in a fine strike from the edge of the area.
But despite further United pressure, City held firm to take the points and leave their fans delirious with joy.
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