Joe Hart took one step too many to his left; Samir Nasri sent his leg forward just a tad too much. Robin van Persie was brought in the beginning of the season to put Manchester United back on top of the Premier League and over Manchester City. In the 90th minute, with a free kick goal against the flow of the final moments he did just that.
What happened later was just disgusting. Rio Ferdinand was hit in his head by an object from a Manchester City fan who later invaded the pitch, trying to attack the Manchester United player, who taunted the home fans after the dramatic goal. Carlos Tevez, too frustrated to contain his emotion tried kicking a player on the sidelines but was saved by Martin Atkinson ending the match in what were a terrible final 30 minutes in terms of the referee.
As expected, Manchester City opened as the dominant team, while United simply defended and waited for the perfect opportunity to poach. After a miss by Mario Balotelli and some dangerous moments around David de Gea’s goal, a perfect counter attack combo between Robin van Persie, Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney ended up in Joe Hart’s goal, who was partially to blame after Rooney mishit his shot at goal.
City went into shock, and United took over the field with their fantastic wing play through Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia. It took only 13 minutes for Wayne Rooney to find himself in the same spot, using accuracy instead of power to put his team 2-0 up, while Joe Hart was beaten with a kick he saves on better days.
City came out different and more dangerous in the second half. The entrance of Carlos Tevez changed the energy and direction of the match. He made things easier for Sergio Aguero and David Silva, who suddenly began operating well in the open spaces created for him. Still, the United counter attack was much more dangerous, and Ashely Young’s goal off a Van Persie miss was wrongly disallowed on cause of offside.
Manchester City made the most of the wrong decision. David de Gea made a couple of amazing saves off of David Silva, but Yaya Toure was too much for him in a similar goal to Rooney’s second, thrusting City back in the match. When Roberto Mancini threw in Edin Dzeko, you felt it was going to be one of those days again for City.
United stopped playing, and conceded for it. A corner kick cleared by Robin van Persie fell into the legs of Pablo Zabaleta, who scored his first goal since his opener in the championship game at the end of last season.
Just when the match looked like it was going to an end in a 2-2 draw, Gael Clichy stupidly lost the ball near his penalty box to Danny Welbeck, which drew a foul from a tight angle and a difficult range. Not too much for Robin van Persie. Wayne Rooney asked the Dutch striker if he wanted to cross or shoot. Van Persie answered he thinks he wants to take the shot. Joe Hart took a step too much to his left. Samir Nasri stretched his leg a few centimeters too far. United won the derby, dramatically, 3-2, adding to their endless list of dramatic wins.