Wayne Rooney
What it takes to separate the England’s and probably the world’s self confessed best club (as said by most Manchester United supporters) and a club bankrolled by the oil wealth of the Sheikh? A wonder goal which would make all football fans proud to follow the world’s most beautiful game. A wonder goal by the temperamental and out of form Wayne Rooney was all which separated the Citizens from united in a game marked by box to box attack as well as an overall cagey affair. To say that one team was outplayed by the other would be injustice to the other as both teams delivered blows after blows as well as take credit for missed chances.
Manchester City started brightly and as early as the 4th minute, David Silva had a golden chance to strike a nail further in the shattered confidence of the united players when a beautiful passing game executed by the City forwards cut the United defence wide open and place Silva with just the goalkeeper to beat but he tamely shot the ball past the post. After that an attacking strategy was substituted with a cagey one as the strikers cut a sorry figure and the battle concentrated in the midfield area. United tried to pile on the pressure on its rivals with numerous corners and forays near the City half but the defence duo of City were omnipresent to break any attack. Kompany played one of the matches of his life as he silenced the marauding United forwards almost singlehandedly. However it was evident that a goal would bring the match back to life and that’s what happened when a long cross from Van Der Sar found Lescott who misdirected it to Giggs. As cool as a cucumber and having an excellent match, he quickly lobbed the ball over the defenders into the path of Nani who coolly slotted home United’s opener.
The second half started in a frenzy manner with both clubs trying to exert dominance on the other. With time slowly ticking by, City were having a hard time to get past Manchester United. However a strong run through the right flank by Wright Philips placed the ball in the path of Dzeko whose thunderous shot took a large deflection of Silva and landed into the United net with Van Der Sar in no position to block it.
With the game increasingly looking to match their earlier meeting at Eastlands, United piled on the pressure and it paid off when a beautiful cross from Nani was slotted home by Rooney in a magnificent manner which would make all fans see it again and again. Old Trafford was in raptures and City were heartbroken. City tries hard but they were not able to stop their title ambitions from slipping away.
United now have a firm grip on the title and with Arsenal seeming the only challenger, Arsenal vs Manchester United certainly would be the title decider. But don’t count out the other teams like Chelsea when Barclays Premier League has proved how inconsistent it can be.
Tags: England, English Premier League, EPL, Football, Manchester City, Manchester United, Premier League, Wayne Rooney, Wonder Goal
