Derby Day

Monday 8^th April, the biggest derby of the season is here and Manchester City visit League leaders and their local rivals Manchester United. United lead 2^nd place City by 15 points in the league and the title seems all but won. But can City close the gap at the Theatre of dreams.

 

From the first whistle both teams went all out attacking. City looked most like they were dictating possession and United waiting to attack on the counter but in the early stages of the game neither team created any convincing chances.

Both teams were sloppy with possession for the majority of the first half, neither team playing well or creating any clear goal scoring opportunities.

In the second half the action began, the 51^st minute saw a City goal. Some poor defending from Man Utd saw nasri getting the ball on the edge of the box. But when his chance of a shot was stopped by two United defenders he laid the ball off for James Milner. He then drilled the ball and a United deflection gave it enough to get past De Gea’s grasp and see the ball make it into the bottom corner.

Next was the turn of Man United. A burst of pace down the right wing from Rafael was brought to an end by a foul from Yaya Toure. Van Persie stepped up to take the free kick and whipped the ball into the six yard box with precision. The ball right over Joe hart onto Phil Jones’ shoulder knocking it onto Kompany’s back into the goal.

Sergio Aguero then stepped up for Man City after being subbed on for Samir Nasri. He received the ball on the left wing just outside the box ran with the ball to the right wing faking shots at each defender he encountered before drilling the ball at De Gea’s near post and putting City 2-1 up in the 70^th minute to Mancini’s delight. This goal proved as the defining goal as the game finished 2-1 to city. City managed to close the gap at the top to 12 points but logic would dictate that the title is still United’s.

@Giles_robinson