Derby Day Memories: Manchester City vs Manchester United, 17th April 2010
By Ollie Slack
Our next trip to the Etihad comes in 2010 as both Manchester clubs are at the business end of the table. How significant would this match be, come the end of the season?
With four games to go until the end of the season, both teams could dent each others season objectives with a win. Manchester United sat second in the table, four points behind leaders Chelsea. They played Tottenham after the Manchester Derby. Manchester City were sat in fourth looking to move five points clear of Spurs in fifth.
A win for the blue side of Manchester and Chelsea, could all but confirm both the title to the Londoners and City’s spot in the UEFA Champions League for the very first time. Alternatively, a win for the red side of Manchester and Spurs, would put United back into the title race and allow Tottenham to leapfrog City.
The match report
The game was a scrappy affair. Cagey, as expected, given the amount riding on the fixture of both sides. Chances were at a premium in the first half, however, they should have been taken.
Former teammates Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez were the ones wasteful of the few chances. In the ninth minute of the contest, Tevez’ free-kick curling towards the top corner was plucked out of the sky by Van Der Sar, who showed terrific athleticism. The game continued to offer little fluidity as half-time approached.
Antonio Valencia tried his best to get Manchester United 1-0 up at the break. He headed the ball into the path of Rooney, who screwed the shot past the post.
The first half display was mirrored in the second. Neither side creating many clear-cut chances.
Craig Bellamy wasted an opportunity though. He was sent clear 10 minutes after the break but spurned the shot wide. Little did he know Tevez and Adebayor were waiting like predators in the box.
A goalmouth scramble was as close as City came. A corner swung in and veteran Patrick Vieira headed the ball back across goal. Nedum Onouha tried to ram the ball home, however, Nemanja Vidic made a warrior like block.
However, just as it looked for all the world like the 142nd Manchester Derby would end in stalemate, something magical happened. Substitute Obertan sprayed the ball out wide to Patrice Evra. The Frenchman floated a cross perfectly to the oncoming run of Paul Scholes who glanced the header perfectly into the corner of the net and beyond Shay Given’s reach.
What happened next…
This derby was remembered not only because of Scholes’ last-minute goal but because the celebrations sparked afterwards. When Gary Neville came face to face with Paul Scholes he couldn’t help but kiss him! The pure adrenaline and emotion Neville felt bubbled over in the aftermath of the dramatic goal.
The win meant Manchester United closed the gap to Chelsea at the top to just one point with Chelsea playing Spurs at White Hart Lane later that day. The Blues and skipper John Terry felt the pressure.
Tottenham defeated Chelsea 2-1 as John Terry saw red. Goals from Jermaine Defoe and Gareth Bale shifted Spurs above Manchester City too. Making the result in the Manchester Derby even sweeter for the red side of Manchester.
