Premier League - Owen hero as United win derby

Eurosport - Mon, 21 Sep 09:21:00 2009

Substitute Michael Owen netted a dramatic injury-time winner as United beat City 4-3 in a pulsating Manchester derby at Old Trafford.

FOOTBALL 2009-2010 Premier League Substitute Michael Owen nets a dramatic injury-time winner as United beat City 4-3 in a pulsating Manchester derby at Old Trafford. - 0

Owen replaced Dimitar Berbatov on 78 minutes and struck with a typically cool finish in the sixth minute of injury time to settle a thrilling match in which City had three times come from behind.

Indeed, Craig Bellamy thought he had snatched a valuable point at the death when he netted his second of the game in the 90th minute, but Owen ensured he will go down in United folklore with an even later strike.

Wayne Rooney had given United the perfect start with the opener after just two minutes only for City to reply through Gareth Barry soon after. A Darren Fletcher brace in the second half twice restored United's lead with Bellamy maintaining City hope with his first in between.

The result means United keep in touch with leaders Chelsea, who beat Tottenham in the later kick-off to restore their three-point advantage at the top of the table, while City's first defeat of the season saw them remain in fourth.

That Owen managed to steal the headlines says much for the late drama at Old Trafford, given that the day also marked the return of Carlos Tevez to his former stomping ground.

The Argentine managed to shake off a knee injury to start against his former club but amicable scenes in the tunnel which saw Tevez hugging some of his old team-mates quickly disappeared as he was roundly booed on his entrance into the Old Trafford arena.

His every touch was subsequently jeered by those fans for whom he was an idol not so long ago.

But Tevez, who had said he expected to receive a warm welcome on his return, was not diminished by the reception and, almost inevitably, was heavily involved during an explosive first half.

Not only did his hassling and harrying create the chance for Barry to equalise, he was also booked for a late challenge on Rio Ferdinand and hit an upright before the half-time whistle sounded.

The day started in the worst possible fashion for City as Rooney capitalised on a shocking lapse of concentration in the visitors' defence in just the second minute, firing past Shay Given after the totally unmarked Patrice Evra was allowed to receive a throw-in and find the England striker in the box.

The goal rocked City and with United not giving an inch early on, the pre-match bluster surrounding a shift of power appeared to be nothing more than hot air.

But Mark Hughes's side are undoubtedly a different animal to the one on show last season and proved as much when they drew level 14 minutes later thanks to a combination of a calamitous blunder by Ben Foster and some typical Tevez tenacity.

The England keeper opted against finding row Z with a clearance, instead choosing to turn back inside his penalty area so he could pick up the ball. But he did not reckon on Tevez, who stole in and dispossessed him before playing the ball across to Barry. The midfielder still had a lot to do, but he coolly found the corner with a first-time strike.

As the opening period wore on the game settled, but Tevez reignited the excitement when the Argentine hit the woodwork after a careless Rooney backheel allowed Kolo Toure to advance and feed the former United man.

United burst out of the blocks in the second half in a similar vein to the first and Fletcher restored their lead just four minutes after the restart, rising highest to head home Ryan Giggs's cross.

Soon after Giggs, who was to become a central figure in the game, was denied a goal himself by the legs of Given.

But before United could extend their advantage, Bellamy thundered City level for a second time with a stunning strike on 52 minutes that flew into the top corner, leaving Foster no chance at all.

The goal came against the run of play but United did not allow it to derail their plan. Indeed they proceeded to dominate the remainder of the second half and should have wrapped up all three points much earlier than they did.

With Giggs pulling the strings, Berbatov in particular was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. That he did not had much to do with the excellent Given, who twice denied headers from the Bulgarian with fine saves.

Given beat a Giggs half-volley behind on 70 minutes, but there was nothing the Irishman could do about Fletcher's second, a near carbon copy of his first as United took the lead once again.

Still City refused to accept defeat and following an opportunity apiece for Shaun Wright-Phillips and Micah Richards, Bellamy ran through to finish brilliantly inside the near post after an uncharateristically sloppy piece of defending by Ferdinand.

The goal stunned the Old Trafford faithful while it sent the travelling City fans into raptures, but those roles were duly reversed when Owen swooped deep into injury time, leaving Hughes - and the blue half of Manchester - to wonder exactly why six minutes of injury time were added.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 1029 - 1048 of 1048

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  1. Im not a manu or city fan the game was great to watch a­ credit to nfootball but the ref was bent-if this was­ the other way round sir alex would be saying everybody­ is against us.I think manu are a credit to brittish­ football and the fact that manc can outbid them in the­ transfer market gets right up his nose-he wasnt moaning­ when HE broke the british transfer for rio was he.As I­ say I am a neutral but man c was robbed.

    From david I, on Tue 22 Sep 5:27PM

  2. Im not a manu or city fan the game was great to watch a­ credit to nfootball but the ref was bent-if this was­ the other way round sir alex would be saying everybody­ is against us.I think manu are a credit to brittish­ football and the fact that manc can outbid them in the­ transfer market gets right up his nose-he wasnt moaning­ when HE broke the british transfer for rio was he.As I­ say I am a neutral but man c was robbed.

    From david I, on Tue 22 Sep 5:24PM

  3. The three stars in the Man City FC NK badge have no­ significance what so ever. They should be changed to­ the three monkeys, hear no evil, speak no evil and see­ no evil. As this appears to be the new philosophy of­ this once honourable club.

    From GERRY, on Tue 22 Sep 3:44PM

  4. People don't just like manu except us ourselves. So­ forget the doubters and lets continue beating them.­ Even after winning the last three seasons we still have­ doubters. Shame!!!!!!!!!!!
    Please show them Man U! We­ are a team and not individuals. players come and go and­ our haters continue doubting. Well they are worse than­ Tomas. At least he believed when he saw Jesus. We pray­ for dobters.
    The season is on and the league is­ destined for Old Trafford yet again

    From davidmchanda, on Tue 22 Sep 11:13AM

  5. like evra said WE ARE MANCHESTER UNITED THE BEST END­ OF!!!!!!

    From kellystyz, on Tue 22 Sep 7:14AM

  6. Everyone still debating check out comment 927 or 928,­ not sure which one it is. This will give insight...
    and­ check 964 by RavmonL for that matter.

    From Sam D, on Tue 22 Sep 1:27AM

  7. typical scum always on the scrounge for a bent ref to­ give them the game

    From alnkirsty, on Mon 21 Sep 10:06PM

  8. Owen for England - said it all along , he will get 15­ goals for man u this season and make Berbatov look a­ bigger @#$% than he already is! Capello - open your­ pissing eyes you moron , he is Rooney's 1st choice­ partner up front and will score in the big games when­ we need a goal cos most of our other strikers are­ @#$%.

    you have been warned!

    OWEN FOR AFRICA!

    From sackthemall, on Mon 21 Sep 9:00PM

  9. would City fans be complaining if they had scored in­ the extra 3 minutes? Only one team wanted to win the­ match not hang on for a draw, good on yer Michael­ let's see you get some more goals now.

    From danielgreenall, on Mon 21 Sep 8:16PM

  10. Judas!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From REAL REDS boycot the SUN, on Mon 21 Sep 6:22PM

  11. These two teams have just played the finest Derby match­ I have ever seen. City cannot blame the extended time­ on the Referee when the time wasting was done by their­ own players running over to their supporters in triumph­ when Bellamy scored. Take this and the incident where­ that idiotic twot ran on the field and held the game­ up, and the substitution periods then you can see that­ the referee blew the finish of the game at the correct­ time. Thanks both teams though for a brilliant and­ exciting match. Watch out Chelsea you are doomed as­ you will have to face two real top teams very soon and­ they will burn your arse even if Drogba and Ballack are­ not suspended again and allowed to play.

    From JOHN I, on Mon 21 Sep 4:50PM

  12. Sir Alex new what he was doing when he signed Owen,pity­ Shearer and co at Newcastle could not see it, but there­ you go they think they are the bees knees but that is­ why they are now in the Championship and United are in­ the top four of the Premership. I am not a United­ supporter but I am a fan of Owen well done Michael

    From BRIAN C, on Mon 21 Sep 4:43PM

  13. For all those cretins suggesting that United get­ unusual and preferential treatment when it comes to­ extra time, maybe you should look at the Arsenal match­ where 5 mins were added, when United were ahead but­ hanging on - there had been no injuries and no more­ than 1 or 2 mins was justified, yet Arsenal were given­ several extra mins to try and get an equaliser. Or­ maybe look at the recent Chelski match where they also­ scored in the 6th minute of extra time. Or about 20%­ of Liverfool's games last year when they scored in­ injury time
    The fact is, refs add a­ disproportionate amount at the end of the 2nd half,­ particularly in games affecting the top teams, for no­ explicable reason.
    More importantly though is that­ United completely outplayed Sh*itty, dominating the­ game and chances, and deservedly won

    From liverfoolrcrap, on Mon 21 Sep 4:14PM

  14. OWEN..OYEEEEEEE...OWEN...OYEEEEE...OWEN...OYEEEE YOU­ BRAK PIPOS HEARTS..THEM SCOURSERS
    IN LIVERFOOL,­ ARSA-NAL, CHELSAW, MAN @#$%, THEY ALL THINK YOU­ FINISHED, BUT YOU SHOVE
    ONE UP THEIR ARSES...THEY FEEL­ SORE... OWEN... OWEN KEEP IT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

    BEL pa­ zed

    From Brian, on Mon 21 Sep 3:42PM

  15. OWEN..OYEEEEEEE...OWEN...OYEEEEE...OWEN...OYEEEE YOU­ BRAK PIPOS HEARTS..THEM SCOURSERS
    IN LIVERFOOL,­ ARSA-NAL, CHELSAW, MAN @#$%, THEY ALL THINK YOU­ FINISHED, BUT YOU SHOVE
    ONE UP THEIR ARSES...THEY FEEL­ SORE... OWEN... OWEN KEEP IT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

    BEL pa­ zed

    From Brian, on Mon 21 Sep 3:42PM

  16. OWEN..OYEEEEEEE...OWEN...OYEEEEE...OWEN...OYEEEE YOU­ BRAK PIPOS HEARTS..THEM SCOURSERS
    IN LIVERFOOL,­ ARSA-NAL, CHELSAW, MAN @#$%, THEY ALL THINK YOU­ FINISHED, BUT YOU SHOVE
    ONE UP THEIR ARSES...THEY FEEL­ SORE... OWEN... OWEN KEEP IT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

    BEL pa­ zed

    From Brian, on Mon 21 Sep 3:41PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    OWEN..OYEEEEEEE...OWEN...OYEEEEE...OWEN...OYEEEE YOU­ BRAK PIPOS HEARTS..THEM SCOURSERS
    IN LIVERFOOL,­ ARSA-NAL, CHELSAW, MAN @#$%, THEY ALL THINK YOU­ FINISHED, BUT YOU SHOVE
    ONE UP THEIR ARSES...THEY FEEL­ SORE... OWEN... OWEN KEEP IT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

    BEL pa­ zed

    From Brian, on Mon 21 Sep 3:35PM

  18. Its a pity 4 teves. At least wen he was at united he­ collected 6 to 7 medals in 2 reasons dat shows hw big n­ great a club like united is. Lets c hw many he will win­ wit city. Sorry guy u joined d wrong club. In­ manchester, red rulessssss. UNITED til D END!!!!

    From revdon4u, on Mon 21 Sep 3:27PM

  19. anfield reject wins the manchester derby for united ha­ ha scousers must be gutted lmao

    From the-man-with-no-name, on Mon 21 Sep 2:49PM

  20. brian ferdinand aint the only worry foster is garbage­ and kuszac aint much better when vds retires were­ goosed we also need a goalie mate he we would have had­ given in net we would have won 5-0

    From the-man-with-no-name, on Mon 21 Sep 2:48PM
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