It was a grey, dreary morning in Portland as I sat down to share something special with 650,000,000 of my closest friends. The special of the day was Manchester United vs. Manchester City, what ESPN’s Ian Darke called “the biggest game in Premier League history.” Hyperbole aside, ManU-City was the most anticipated Premier League match since … well, the last time Man U faced City earlier this season. For two hours, give or take, the world would be one community, all attention focused on a green patch of grass in Manchester, England. The conflict between “red” and “blue” would transcend trivialities such as American politics. In the end, the match would vindicate every last ounce of hype that had been expended in the buildup to it.
How big was Premier League match #36 for both sides? You mean, besides the fact that Diego Maradona was in attendance? Consider that the game was broadcast worldwide to more than 200 countries, in who-knows-how-many different languages. Consider also that at kickoff, Man U was a mere three points clear of city atop the Premier League table. A point would secure the Premiership for ManU. A City victory would keep thir hopes alive, at least mathematically.
Looming over the match was the specter of City’s 6-1 gutting of Man U earlier in the season … at Old Trafford, no less. I was fortunate enough to catch that game on TV, and it wasn’t nearly as close as the scored indicated. City had its way in every aspect of the match, running circles around a tired and unmotivated ManU side that mailed in 90 minutes of uninspired soccer.
Since that game, Man U has steadily worked their way back into form. With Sir Alex Ferguson taking his characteristic calm and cautious approach, Man U has used its surpassing talent and its deep bench to climb back atop of the table. Conversely, Man City has been the picture of inconsistency and internal strife. Their brilliant man-child, Mario Balotelli, has found it near impossible to keep himself out of the tabloids. His on- and off-field antics have distracted from what should be the headline news: City’s return to the top of the table after years of mediocrity. ManU may have the best-known collection of talent in the game, but City’s manager Roberto Mancini wasn’t exactly working with an empty toolbox.
At its most basic, this leg of the Manchester Derby would showcase the two best teams in England … and quite possibly the world.
The game began slowly, the first 15 minutes a series of feints and probes as both sides tried to find holes in the respective defenses. Neither side was able to maintain possession or mount a sustained threat. Both defenses kept their shape, and it seemed neither side was in a gambling frame of mind.
In the 16th minute, City’s Carlos Tevez broke through the ManU defense, only to be forced wide and quickly shut down without incident. City enjoyed most of the possession, but seemed to lose composure whenever they began to put pressure on ManU’s back line. A surplus of unproductive touches left City with nothing to show as ManU seemed content to allow City to expend most of the energy early on.
By the 25th minute, the match had settled into a predictable pattern: ManU sitting back and waiting for City to make a mistake, and City looking for cracks in ManU’s defense. Most observers had predicted this sort of match; ManU needed only a draw to secure the Premiership; they had little to gain by being the aggressor. They’d play not to lose and force City to play to win. It was City that would need to take risks. When they did, ManU’s defense quickly and efficiently rose to the challenge.
In the 36th minute, City threw two dangerous shots at ManU goalkeeper David DeGea, who proved equal to both challenges. Meanwhile, City goalkeeper Joe Hart remained a lonely man with little to do but watch as City attacked and ManU reacted calmly and resolutely. How long would it continue that way before someone made a mistake and paid for it? Not long, as it turned out.
During the first minute of first-half stoppage time, City’s increasing pressure finally bore fruit. Samri Nasri placed a perfectly struck corner kick into the six-yard box directly in front of DeGea.. Vincent Kompany soared over ManU’s Chris Smalling and skillfully headed the ball into the back of the net. 1-0 City at the half….
After winning the time of possession by a 60%-40% margin and pushing forward consistently, City found a crack and exploited it. The home crowd erupted, and the nature of the game changed in an instant just moments before halftime.
The question became how United would respond in the second half. Would they begin to force the action and attempt to equalize? Or would they continue to allow City to dictate the pace and flow?
The second half began with no substitutions for either side, but Sir Alex Ferguson had clearly decided that it was time for ManU to go on the attack. The first five minutes of the half were played almost exclusively in City’s defensive half. ManU pushed more players forward and forced City’s defenders to be more conservative.
To their credit, City opened the second half playing like a team deserving of their lead. They’d clearly anticipated ManU’s change in tactics, and they continued to push forward when possible, but with more caution than they’d displayed in the first 45 minutes.
Sixty minutes in, City continued to counterattack cautiously, forcing ManU’s defenders to chase the ball as much as possible without taking unnecessary risks. Their confidence growing with every passing minute, City became what ManU has been for so many years: a dominant side able to dictate tempo and control the flow of play.
ManU uncharacteristically began to play disorganized, inefficient soccer. Unable to sustain possession and string together enough passes to consistently pressure City’s defense, Wayne Rooney became increasingly frustrated. He’d seldom touched the ball, and when he had he’d been ineffective.
In the 72nd minute, City’s Yaya Toure turned a ManU turnover into a fast break and whistled a blistering shot just wide to the right of David DeGea’s goal. ManU looked like a team that had lost its form, reacting instead of dictating.
Then, in the 75th minute, the tension rose to the surface. City’s Nigel de Jong received a yellow card for a rough tackle, and Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini began sniping at one another on the sidelines. Play became rougher, and the yellow cards more frequent. Still, City managed to maintain the advantage, dictating tempo and forcing ManU to take risks.
In the 82nd minute, Yaya Toure rocketed a blistering shot just wide to the left of DeGea’s goal. City continued cautiously pushing forward while keeping numbers back on their defensive half. ManU looked increasingly fatigued from chasing; their passing became sloppy and poorly considered, and when they gained possession they were unable to sustain it.
Gael Clichy forced DeGea to make an athletic save in the 88th minute as City continued to pressure and wear down ManU’s defense. Samir Nasri lost control of a golden opportunity in front of DeGea in the 90th minute, and it was clear that City’s consistently high energy level had worn ManU down.
ManU’s final effort died quietly in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Ashley Young delivered a low, short corner kick directly into City’s defensive wall. Then it came: the final whistle, the roar of the crowd, and a rousing rendition of the “Blue Moon Anthem.”
City’s victory left them tied atop the table with ManU, each at 83 points with two games remaining. If each side wins out, City will win the Premier League championship based on their eight-goal edge in goal differential. If they hold serve, City’s comeback will be complete.
After their dominant performance against ManU, one thing seems clear: only a few miles separate two of the best teams in the world. That can only be good for the game of soccer. Best of all, for two hours, I didn’t have to think about the Timbers woeful performance thus far.
And now it’s back to reality….
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