The greatest derby ever?
It's exactly four years to the day since our 4-3 win over Manchester City in 2009, a game dubbed by Sir Alex Ferguson as "the best derby of all time”.
That’s a bold claim, but let’s look at the evidence. Even the build-up hinted that something special was in the offing, with the Blues having gone berserk in the transfer market, most notably signing Carlos Tevez after two years at United. That City were managed by a Red legend in the shape of Mark “Sparky” Hughes only added to a heady cocktail.
When Gareth Barry equalised Wayne Rooney’s early opener, the pattern was set for a see-saw afternoon that saw the Blues peg United back every time the Reds took the lead – until the most dramatic conclusion imaginable.
Craig Bellamy bagged his second goal on the stroke of 90 minutes to level the match at 3-3, but United were not done yet. Ryan Giggs had rolled back the years with an outstanding display all afternoon, and the Welsh wizard had one more trick up his sleeve in stoppage time.
Michael Owen, on as a substitute, was found with a pinpoint pass and his clinical finish past City stopper Shay Given sent Red fans at Old Trafford and around the world into ecstasy.
There have been some dramatic derbies since, including more late match-winners, but this was arguably the best of the lot.
Hey! Picconeers, What do you think?
It's exactly four years to the day since our 4-3 win over Manchester City in 2009, a game dubbed by Sir Alex Ferguson as "the best derby of all time”.
That’s a bold claim, but let’s look at the evidence. Even the build-up hinted that something special was in the offing, with the Blues having gone berserk in the transfer market, most notably signing Carlos Tevez after two years at United. That City were managed by a Red legend in the shape of Mark “Sparky” Hughes only added to a heady cocktail.
When Gareth Barry equalised Wayne Rooney’s early opener, the pattern was set for a see-saw afternoon that saw the Blues peg United back every time the Reds took the lead – until the most dramatic conclusion imaginable.
Craig Bellamy bagged his second goal on the stroke of 90 minutes to level the match at 3-3, but United were not done yet. Ryan Giggs had rolled back the years with an outstanding display all afternoon, and the Welsh wizard had one more trick up his sleeve in stoppage time.
Michael Owen, on as a substitute, was found with a pinpoint pass and his clinical finish past City stopper Shay Given sent Red fans at Old Trafford and around the world into ecstasy.
There have been some dramatic derbies since, including more late match-winners, but this was arguably the best of the lot.
Hey! Picconeers, What do you think?
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