With only a few games left in the English Premier League, the top of the table looks like this:
1. Man Utd: 26-4-5 (83 points)
2. Man City: 25-5-5 (80 points)
3. Arsenal: 20-10-6 (66 points)
4. Spurs: 18-9-8 (62 points) (goal difference of 20)
5. Newcastle: 18-9-8 (62 points) (goal difference of 7)
6. Chelsea: 17-8-10 (61 points)
At 3 P.M. EDT this afternoon, City hosts United, and -- because they have a more favorable goal difference than their rivals -- they can take the lead with a victory.
Given that Manchester City has not won the title since 1968, it is safe to say that this is the biggest game for City fans in 44 years. If you want to watch, it will be on ESPN.
United leads the all-time series 67-44-50. But they have 19 league titles (including 12 since 1992), while City has only 2 (including none since 1968).
One nice thing about this game is that a tie does City no good -- they really need to win, which should encourage them to try to score.
ReplyDeleteFrom a uniform perspective, this is one of the world's greatest rivalries. Man City are in their sky blue shirts and shorts with white socks, while United are wearing red shirts, white shorts, and black socks. It looks like a game between UNC and NC State.
ReplyDeleteManchester City 0 - 0 Manchester Utd (10 minutes)
ReplyDeleteBoth sides just feeling each other out so far.
Manchester City 0 - 0 Manchester Utd (20 minutes)
ReplyDeleteA lot of back and forth, but no good scoring chances so far. City appears to have a little more of the possession.
There's one bloc of Man Utd fans right behind one of the goals. You can tell because the aisles separating the United fans from the City fans who fill the rest of the stadium are filled with security guards.
ReplyDeleteManchester City 0 - 0 Manchester Utd (30 minutes)
ReplyDeleteCity had a few good attacking runs, and got a couple of corner kicks, but never came close to scoring. United, which is playing for a scoreless draw, looks very sharp on defense so far.
Manchester City 0 - 0 Manchester Utd (40 minutes)
ReplyDeleteCity keeps attacking, but so far United is batting them away without too much trouble. Fifty minutes to go (plus injury time).
Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (Halftime)
ReplyDeleteCity's repeated attacks finally pay off. Just before halftime, Vincent Kompany (of Belgium) banged home a brilliant header from a corner kick to give City the lead.
The game will now totally change. United's hopes of scraping a 0-0 draw are out the window now -- they have to attack. And this will open up the game for both teams.
That was a very well-deserved goal from City, who showed great patience and skill in breaking down United's defense.
ReplyDeleteThe Guardian says that United did a terrible job of defending Kompany on that key header, and that's probably right. But United is traditionally an offense-first team, so sitting in a defensive shell doesn't really suit them.
ReplyDeleteManchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (50 minutes)
ReplyDeleteSome back-and-forth action right now, but nothing major has happened.
Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (60 minutes)
ReplyDeleteSo far, United has not seriously threatened City's goal.
Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (70 minutes)
ReplyDeleteUnited are turning up the offensive pressure, but so far City are holding them off. City makes a substitution to strengthen its defense.
In the 76th minute, Sir Alex Ferguson -- the legendary Man Utd manager (think of a cleverer version of Bobby Knight) -- is furious when one of his players goes down under a tackle. Sir Alex wanted a red card. While he's screaming at the referee, City manager Roberto Mancini (who is standing about 20 feet away from him on the same sideline) starts interrupting Sir Alex, moving his hand in the universal sign for "you're talking too much." The two managers come to within a few feet of each other before being separated by their assistants.
ReplyDeleteManchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (80 minutes)
ReplyDeleteOK, now United are going to give it everything they've got. The next 15 minutes should be quite dramatic.
In the 81st minute, City striker Yayya Toure had a great shot from just outside the penalty box. But with the chance to clinch the match, he shoots wide.
ReplyDeleteManchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (90 minutes)
ReplyDeleteCity are looking pretty solid at the back. We will have the usual five minutes of injury time that is awarded whenever United need a goal.
Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (93 minutes)
ReplyDeleteCity still holding firm.
Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (94 minutes)
ReplyDeleteUnited win a huge corner, but their corner kick is off line.
Manchester City 1 - 0 Manchester Utd (Full Time)
ReplyDeleteCity have done it! Eight points behind just a few weeks ago, they have now taken over first place in the English Premier League with two games to go.
If I were a city fan I would be so upset that this wasn't the last game of the season.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah. Because their next game -- at Newcastle -- will be very, very difficult.
ReplyDelete