The Manchester Derby is fast approaching, so what better time to look back over some of dramatic moments that have defined one of the biggest games of the season. If City were once considered the noisy neighbours, they’re now parking their car on United’s garden lawn, such has been their inexorable rise into the dominant force of English football. A definitive case of the 'blue moon rising', but only a fool would write off the Red Devils when the two juggernauts clash on Sunday.
Here are 5 golden moments that have lit up the Mancunian tussle for supremacy…
BEWARE THE BENCHWARMER: UNITED 4-3 CITY (Old Trafford 2009-10): A game in which the decisive goal was scored in the mysterious twilight zone of a football match. In this zone, time and space could be squeezed or stretched according to the whims of the watch on Sir Alex Ferguson’s wrist. ‘Fergie time’ was in full effect on this occasion, and what an occasion it was. Great goals and dodgy defending made for a pulsating game that swayed from end to end. Little Michael Owen would be a fixture on the United bench for the majority of his time at the club, but it was his cameo appearance on this day that sealed his place in the Manchester derby ‘Hall of Fame’. With 96 minutes on the clock, Owen received a killer pass from Ryan Giggs before expertly guiding the ball home to snatch the game and send the Stretford End into delirium.
ROONEY’S SHIN: UNITED 2-1 CITY (Old Trafford 2010-11): A tight game was decided by a goal so stunning that Joe Hart could only gaze upon the ball open-mouthed, as he watched it ping into the back of the net before he could say ‘head & shoulders’. The wondrous moment came courtesy of a moment of sublime skill from United talisman Wayne Rooney. The striker connected with a Nani (remember him?) cross whilst upside-down as he performed a bicycle kick with outrageous aplomb, from the edge of the area. On closer inspection, the ball appeared to come off Wazza’s shin but it could have come off his backside for all the United fans cared. It was a truly special goal that won the game for United.
WHY ALWAYS HIM: UNITED 1-6 CITY (Old Trafford 2011-12): A game that will always be embedded into the psyche of all those of a Sky Blue persuasion. Back in the days when Mario Balotelli was more ‘Super’ than ‘Mad’, City dismantled United in their own backyard, smashing 6 goals past the beleaguered home defence. It was United’s worst defeat at Old Trafford since 1955 and while United will point to the fact that Johnny Evans' first-half red card didn’t help their cause, City fans would simply reply: ‘bothered’. It’s made more memorable by the shy and retiring Balotelli who, after scoring the first of his two goals at the Stertford End, stood stock still and pulled up his shirt to reveal the message that now defines him.
A CAPTAIN’S TALE: CITY 1-0 UNITED (Etihad Stadium 2011-12): This match took place in the period of the season commonly known as ‘squeaky bum’ time. A time of year where mind games are to be played, glory is to be grasped and referees manipulated. Fergie usually came into his own at these moments, but would famously meet his match in the form of fanatical, scarf-wearing Italian Roberto Mancini. City's defender lynchpin and gladiatorial captain Vincent Kompany’s powerfully headed goal on the cusp of half-time proved decisive in a tense and edgy affair. City had trumped their nemesis and Mancini even had the temerity to give the old master some ‘verbals’ on the side-line too. By the end of the night, the Sky Blues were on top of the league with two games to go and never looked back.
RVP TERRITORY: CITY 2-3 UNITED (Etihad Stadium 2012-13): This was the game in which Robin van Persie took the field in the red of United for his derby debut. The match was a cracker and the score was level with two minutes of stoppage-time remaining, when United got a free-kick in van Persie ‘territory’, thirty yards from goal. RVP whipped the ball towards a the three-man wall in which Samir Nasri inexplicably moved his body out of harm’s way, before dangling a foot out with all the fortitude of quivering jelly. The ball took a deflection off his foot and arced over the outstretched fingers of Joe Hart and into the net. Game over and RVP would go on to inspire United all the way to the title.
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