WHAT A BATTLE!!! This past Sunday a potential game of the season took place at Old Trafford. The two teams of Manchester, United and City, gave each other Hell for ninety minutes. Now, Manchester United and Manchester City have always been fierce rivals. Manchester simply isn't big enough for the both of them. However, it's worth noting that until this season, City has been a team worthy of writing off. Sure, they're a mid-table team, and they could always give you trouble... but United have always been too strong for them. THIS season, though, they have a billionaire owner who seems up to the task of taking them to the top. After spending hundreds of millions this summer, City emerged with new talent looking to be world-beaters.
Coming into the match, both teams were in good form. Manchester United brought a record of four wins and one losses while City showed up undefeated after four matches. This time, no one was writing City off. Tensions were high before the match began at the sold out Old Trafford. The supporters of both clubs tried to out-sing each other as the teams took their places on the field. BUT THOSE TENSIONS WERE EASED AFTER ONLY TWO MINUTES WHEN THE WONDERBOY WAYYYYYYNE ROONEY FOUND THE BACK OF THE NET!!! 1-0.
The match continued and City looked wounded yet determined. United held the lion's share of possession for the first fifteen minutes until the unthinkable happened. Ben Foster, United's starting keeper due to the impenetrable Van Der Saar being injured, has looked good for the most part, but also shaky at times this season. He has made mistakes previously this season, but the biggest one he's made in a Premiership match ever occurred in the 16th minute of the first half. An awkward ball was played into United's 16 yard box and Foster charged for it. The ex-United-now-City Tevez chased like a bulldog after the ball, as well. Foster was flustered and Tevez managed to expertly steal the ball from him and slot it over to Barry who finished emphatically. 1-1.
After another half hour of chess-like football, the first half was finished. Both teams retired to their dressing rooms. Now, I wasn't in either of these rooms, but I can imagine what transpired. I see a furious Sir Alex Ferguson shouting at United, telling them that they're good enough to destroy City but not disciplined enough to take the match into their own hands. I also see Mark Hughes, hungry for a deep title run this season, encouraging his lads to play on, to take it to the Champions and give it all that they've got. After 15 minutes of whatever was said, the match continued...
United flew out of the traps as the second half began and it wasn't long before DARREN FLETCHER HEADED ONE HOME!!! In the 49th minute a pin-point cross from Nani found Fletcher and it was 2-1 in an instant.
Now listen... I'm a diehard United fan and City can go fuck themselves as far as I'm concerned. But even I can admit that Craig Bellamy produced a bit of magic in the 52nd minute. I'm not a talented enough writer to describe exactly what happened, but trust me, it was glorious. He received the ball in the final third, dribbled past a defender, and struck a thunderbolt right into the top right corner of Foster's net. 2-2.
The match continued and the two clubs continued to display their brilliant football. Both clubs have extremely talented offenses and defenses, so the likes of Rooney and Berbatov were denied as were the likes of Tevez and Bellamy. Finally, after 20 more minutes of struggle, FLETCHER STRUCK AGAIN. Fletcher's second was almost identical to his third, with the midfielder once again heading home a cross from the far post. 3-2.
With only 10 minutes left in the match, City knew it was time to step up. The ten minutes after Fletcher's goal were complete fury and fire and the final few minutes of the original 90 were complete chaos with end to end attacks. Defense was an after-thought. In the NINETYth minute, the unspeakable happened. Bellamy beautifully took a long ball past a defender and past Foster for another goal. 3-3.
As the sign went up signalling that there were four minutes of stoppage time to be added on, the controversy began. The four minutes allotted were due to substitutions, injuries, and other complications. However, Bellamy scored JUST before the 90 minutes were over, and obviously, there was a celebration. How would these minutes be added? We found out when in the 94th minute, the whistle had not yet blown. BUT IN THE 95th MINUTE... MICHAEL OWEN, THE HERO, MADE IT 4-3. 4-3. 4-3. 4-3.... 4-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the last possible moments of the match, Giggs threaded a beautiful ball to Michael Owen who finished clinically.
So, in the end lads, we won it. We always deserved to win it. Possession was 60-40 us. We had 24 shots, they had 11. 8 of ours were on target while only 4 of theirs were. But, as you know, football is never decided on who deserved to win it. It's all about the scoreline. Even there, though, we won it. MICHAEL OWEN. WAYNE ROONEY. DAAARRRRREN FLETCHER!!! Well done, lads. GLORY, GLORY, MAN UNITED!!!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment