Owen hits the headlines with derby winner
Michael Owen’s career at Manchester United had perhaps not got off to the best start. Boss Sir Alex Ferguson seems to prefer the partnership of Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney with Owen restricted to appearances off the bench. Until now he had been guilty of missing a few chances, indeed he had a great chance in the dying stages of the Champions League tie against Besiktas which he failed to bury. However, he has now earned himself a place in Old Trafford folklore with a last gasp winner against Manchester City as United ran out 4-3 winners.
United started the day as heavy football betting favourites and immediately showed their intent by grabbing an early lead inside the second minute. Rooney shrugged off two City defenders and slotted the ball expertly past Shay Given to get the game off to an intense start. City responded quickly and were level within 20 minutes as Carlos Tevez was allowed to nick the ball off Ben Foster, the former United man found Gareth Barry who coolly drilled the ball into a gaping goal from the edge of the penalty area.
The home side again took the lead through Darren Fletcher just after the break. The Scotsman met Ryan Giggs’ cross and managed to steer the ball into the goal with his headed effort. City’s Craig Bellamy hauled the visitors level again just three minutes later. He was allowed to turn and run at the United goal, he cut inside and fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner to again draw the two sides level.
With less than 10 minutes remaining United looked to have sealed the win when Fletcher again scored from a Ryan Giggs cross. In very uncharacteristic fashion Rio Ferdinand gifted City a lifeline, his errant pass got no further than Bellamy who outpaced the England international before selling Foster a dummy and slotting the ball into the United goal as normal time came to an end.
However, United, and Owen, were not to be denied. Four minutes of added time had been signalled at the end of normal time but in the 96th minute Owen placed the ball past Shay Given with a classy finish. Giggs, who had been outstanding throughout, found Owen with a clever through ball that left Owen with just the City keeper to beat. You would bet on Owen to score every time he gets in a one on one situation and this time was no different. He took one touch to control the ball before poking the ball into the goal with the outside of his right boot to secure victory for United. It was vintage Michael Owen and the type of finish that will surely make the England camp sit up and take note.
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