10 of the most memorable Manchester derbies this decade (part2)

With Manchester United winning the final Manchester derby of the decade, we’ve decided to look at the 10 of the most memorable Manchester derbies this decade. If you missed part 1 of this list, you can find it through the link below.

http://footy.ac/manchesterderby1

With the FA Cup semi-final the season prior being the first time that City and United met at Wembley, it wasn’t a long wait for both sides to meet once again at the national stadium, this time for the Community Shield, as City won the Fa Cup and United won the Premier League. Joleon Lescott put City ahead after 38 minutes before Edin Dzeko doubled City’s lead with a long-range effort. United cut City’s lead through an unlikely source as Chris Smalling header beat Joe Hart to score his second United goal. United drew level with City after Nani finished off a fantastic team goal before a Vincent Kompany error put Nani through on goal where he dribbled past Joe Hart to score United’s third in injury time to take the Community Shield to Old Trafford.

Ahead of City’s trip to Old Trafford during the 14/15 season, United had lost 4 consecutive Manchester derbies and hadn’t beaten City since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and it looked like it could be 5 consecutive after Aguero put City ahead at Old Trafford after just 8 minutes. United responded well to going behind as Ashley Young levelled the cancelled out Aguero’s opener 6 minutes later before Marouane Fellaini put United ahead during the 27th minute. United maintained their form going into the second half as goals from Juan Mata and Chris Smalling gave United a 4-1 lead over City before Sergio Aguero scored his second of the game to cut United’s lead. The victory was met with relief by United fans as defeat to their neighbours would have been a record number of consecutive defeats against them.

Nothing less than a victory would do for City as they went into the final Manchester derby of the 18/19 season with Liverpool close behind them in the race for the title. United on the other hand went into the derby having lost 4 of their previous 5 games, including a 4-0 defeat to Everton and lacking confidence. Going into half-time the score was 0-0 and the game could go either way, it soon went City’s way however as Bernardo Silva put City ahead less than 10 minutes into the second half before Leroy Sane doubled City’s lead 12 minutes later. The victory was crucial for City as they went on to beat Liverpool to the title by just 1 point. United on the other hand failed to recreate the form they demonstrated when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over and finished 6th.

Like stated in part 1, United’s record in Manchester derbies under David Moyes was one to forget for United fans. A 4-1 defeat at the Etihad earlier in the season wasn’t rectified at the return fixture at Old Trafford as United suffered their second defeat to City that season and their third consecutive defeat to their rivals. United never really got going in the game after Edin Dzeko opening minute goal and their fate was sealed after Dzeko scored his second of the game 11 minutes into the second half before Yaya Toure joined the scoresheet by scoring City’s third during the 90th minute Like many other occasions in this list, City’s victory over United was vital as they went on the win the Premier League by just 2 points.

After losing the Premier League to their rivals on the final day of the season on goal difference the season before, United were hungry to bring the Premier League to Old Trafford, so their trip to face City at the Etihad during December 2012 was a vital one if they wanted to do so. United looked well on their way to victory after finding themselves 2-0 at half-time thanks to a brace from Wayne Rooney. City had no intention of losing to their rivals and found themselves level thanks to goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta. With the game looking destined for a goal, United were awarded a free-kick and it was Robin van Persie who stepped up to take it. Van Persie struck the ball and a slight deflection from Samir Nasri in the wall took the ball out of Joe Hart’s reach to give United a 3-2 victory in the last minute. United went on to comfortably win the league by 11 points.