Manchester United eliminated Manchester City out of the FA Cup with a 3-2 third-round win in a drama-packed derby at Etihad Stadium in a clash that could turn into a revenge game for Manu but in the end didn’t.
Manchester / NationalTurk – Manchester United surged into a 3-0 halftime lead after the controversial early sending-off of Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany and looked poised to exact full revenge for their humiliating 6-1 home league trashing by their rival neighbours earlier this season.
Manu striker Wayne Rooney was in form , having scored twice, netting either side of the controversial sending off of Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, with Danny Welbeck also on target to make it 3-0 for the Red Devils before the half-time break for the visitors.
Manchester City fans were soaking wet and had to endure their teams woeful suffering in the hands of their fiercest rivals. More than few City fans couldn’t resist imagining a worse defeat than 6-1 at the halftime, as their City was one man and 3 goals behind Manchester United.
Manchester City vs Manchester United : Drama level increased in the second half of Fa Cup clash derby
However Manchetser City pulled a goal back early in the second half when Aleksandar Kolarov bent a free kick round the wall from the edge of the box.
And 10-man City struck again when Sergio Aguero made it 3-2 in the 65th minute after a mistake by 37-year-old United substitute Paul Scholes, summoned out of retirement by manager Sir Alex Ferguson following an injury crisis.
Premier League leaders Man. City, three points in front of defending Man. champions United at the top of the table, pressed for an equaliser, with Kolarov going close from a second free-kick in stoppage time, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s men held on.
“I think we made them (Man. City) better than they were,” Ferguson admitted in the press conference. “We were just so careless in the second half.”
Manchester United face tough battle vs Liverpool at FA Cup 4th round
Manchester United were later handed another difficult tie in the fourth round, a trip to bitter rivals Liverpool where the fallout from the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra race row will dominate the build-up.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, praised his team’s character after going 3-0 down.
“It’s best that we talk about the game and not the referee. I am happy because I think we played a fantastic performance. The players did well in the second half,” stated Roberto Mancini. Manchester City obviously set its priority for Premiere League this season.
Manchester United’s fourth-round tie at Anfield offers Liverpool the chance for revenge after Man. United knocked them out of FA Cup last season.
“Liverpool away … what a tie! Great game for the FaCup+our fans! Let’s av iiiiiit! Roll on the 4th round,” United’s Rio Ferdinand wrote on Twitter.
United’s former Liverpool striker Michael Owen added: “And people talk about United always getting lucky cup draws.”
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