It was the headline clash of the third round of the FA Cup. The two top teams in the country going head to head in knockout football. It was a clash built up to be a classic. So often such games disappoint. This one did not.
The first exciting news of the day came about an hour before kick off. There was absolute shock at the sight of the name of Paul Scholes on the Manchester United subs bench. After 6 months of retirement involving coaching and training with the reserves, United announced that they were re-signing club legend Scholes until the end of the season. The timing of the announcement was trademark Ferguson. After back-to-back defeats, a trip to the home of the team who walloped them 6-1 at Old Trafford was a daunting task. The inclusion of Scholes in the squad was always going to provide a welcome boost to morale.
As the game kicked off, United must have feared the worst. City were sharp, energetic and hungry for the ball. The cup holders had Ferguson’s men camped on the edge of the 18 yard box for the first 10 minutes. Then the ball broke to Ryan Giggs on the halfway line. Giggs fed Rooney who sprayed it wide to the exceptional Antonio Valencia. He fired the ball across first time to be met by the flying head of Wayne Rooney. The ball cannoned into the crossbar and in past City no.2 keeper Costos Pantilimon.
This was a momentum shifter and it was to get better for United just two minutes later. As Nani broke forward, Kompany lunged in and won the ball. Unfortunately for the City skipper he had used two feet in the process. Referee Chris Foy reached for his pocket and to City’s disgust, saw red. This was a contentious and game-changing decision, but the referee was left with no choice. A two footed tackle brings about a red card. They all know the rules. Mancini says City will appeal, but there will surely be no chance of success.
Danny Welbeck produced the best moment of play in a game full of high tensions on the half hour mark. As the ball popped up on the edge of the box, he swivelled and struck magnificently to double United’s advantage. It was a superb performance by Welbeck who demonstrated his strength and control throughout the game.
Welbeck was central again as United were awarded a certain penalty. Brought down by Kolarov, Welbeck had given Rooney the chance the double his tally. Initially saved by Pantilimon, Rooney followed in to head home the rebound. 3-0 at half time seemed like a done deal for the Red Devils.
This was far from the case. Two minutes into the second half, Aleksandar Kolarov curled a free kick over the wall and got a goal back for Mancini’s men. Game on again. United did brilliantly in keeping possession and taking the sting out the game. Scholes came on in an effort to increase the possession football. However the ginger haired magician looked rusty and gave the ball away, leading to Aguero tapping home from 2 yards. City had the momentum and with a quarter of a game to go, were looking like pulling a marvellous win from the jaws of defeat.
Despite this momentum, United got back into passing rhythm and saw the game out to claim a magnificent win. The two sides going head to head in the league had provided a marvellous spectacle in the cup and gave us a taste of the best of both teams.
Both managers had cause to complain with the referee but all in all the right team won the game. The fans were provided with a classic Manchester Derby and the winners are in the draw for round 4. In the end that’s all that matters.
RATINGS
CITY : Pantilimon 6, Richards 5, Kompany 4, Lescott 6, Kolarov 5, Milner 7, De- Jong 6, Johnson 6 (Zabaleta 5), Nasri 4 (Hargreaves N/A), Silva 5 (Savic 6), Aguero 8.
UNITED : Lindegaard 6, Smalling 7, Ferdinand 7, Jones 5, Evra 7, Nani 5 (Scholes 5), Giggs 8, Carrick 9, Valencia 8, Rooney 8, Welbeck 8 (Anderson 6)
MAN OF THE MATCH : CARRICK
Referee: Chris Foy 7
