Yesterday's Manchester derby was undoubtedly the marquee match of the FA Cup's 3rd round. For some of my readers that don't always follow the English game, the 3rd round is where all the big teams from the top 2 flights come in and play all the minnows. However, this match was a clash of the titans, and it had pretty much everything.
After trouncing United 1-6 at Old Trafford earlier this season, City were coming out to finally assert their dominance over their more experienced rivals. They controlled the match in the opening minutes. United had pretty much everybody back behind the ball as they tried to weather the opening storm. However the storm ended up being nothing more than a rumble of thunder. The best chance City got in the first 10 minutes was a free kick from Aleksandar Kolarov, which he disappointingly hit into the wall.
After that United took their first real attack of the match and made it count. In the 10 minute Antonio Valencia provided a great cross into the box. Wayne Rooney was there to meet it and head it in under the bar to make it 0-1 to United. Rooney ran over to the City fans clutching the crest on his shirt, showing them who he thought ruled Manchester.
It got worse for City just a couple of minutes later. Captain Vincent Kompany went sliding in with two feet on Nani just outside the penalty area. Kompany got all ball, and Nani didn't even go to ground, but the referee went straight red on him and reduced City to 10 men.
City didn't shy away though and over the next ten minutes they put together a pretty good response, despite being down a man. In the 14th minute Sergio Aguero came the closest for City drilling in a shot from distance, but Anders Lindegaard grabbed it and held on to keep United in the lead.
However, the loss of a man finally started to tell on City later in the half. If I'm honest with you, they had trouble all day with United bringing the ball in from wide. In the 30th minute Patrice Evra sent in yet another quality cross that Danny Welbeck brilliantly volleyed into the net to make it 0-2.
Then just before half time it looked like United was going to put the game on ice. City conceded a PK and Wayne Rooney stepped up to take the spot kick. However, Rooney hit it rather lamely and Costel Pantilimon made the save for City. Unfortunately for him, the rebound went straight back to Rooney who nodded it easily into the empty net to make it 0-3 United at the half.
All eyes focused on Roberto Mancini's side in the second half. Would City park the bus just to prevent a United route, or would they go for it and try to get back in the match? Thankfully for us neutrals that were watching they fought, and they fought hard.
It took them less than 4 minutes to nick their first goal. Patrice Evra made a dumb foul for United right outside his own area, He was shown the yellow card, but more importantly gave up the free kick. Kolarov again stepped up and this time he made amends for the poor kick in the first half by slotting it over the wall and past Lindegaard to make it 1-3.
At that point you could feel the energy start to surge back into the City players and fans. United tried to check the momentum by changing personnel, including bringing in formerly retired Paul Scholes, who had recently just resigned with the club to help them fill in down the stretch.
However, the United legend spoiled his own return in the 64th minute by giving the ball up on a throw in deep in his own half. City took it and managed to get it to Aguero in the box. His first shot was blocked, but this time it was Lindegaard who gave up the rebound, and the Argentine promptly mopped up and calmly finished to make it 2-3.
Unfortunately for City, the tired legs caught up with them and they failed to really mount a serious charge to equalize. United did give them once good chance though. Rio Ferdinand committed a foul right outside his own area in stoppage time to give City one more free kick chance to score and force a replay. However, Lindegaard parried Kolarov's kick and United cleared it, ending the match at 2-3.
So the holders are out. Next up for United is a 4th round clash against Liverpool at Anfield later this month.
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