Aguero hits City winner to stun Man Utd in derby

Sergio Aguero ripped through the Manchester United defence to score the winner in the 78th minute as Manchester City beat the Premier League leaders 2-1 at Old Trafford on Monday.

Aguero tweeted after the match: "Thrilled about the victory, and I'd like to especially dedicate my goal to my son Ben. C'mon @MCFC !! Fight til the end!!" (‏@aguerosergiokun)

Second-placed City's second successive league win at Old Trafford, following last term's 6-1 demolition job, allowed them to narrow the gap on their neighbours to 12 points with seven games remaining even if their title hopes are all but over.

A blistering opening 10 minutes gave way to a scrappy first half before the visitors broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with James Milner's deflected goal.

The lead lasted seven minutes before an unfortunate own goal from City captain Vincent Kompany following a superb free kick by Robin van Persie but substitute Aguero came on to snatch the points with a special goal in the 78th minute.

United lead the way with 77 points from 31 games with City on 65.

Third-placed Chelsea are on 58 points, level with fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur who have played a game more.

Manchester United Yellow Cards:

Rafael
Rooney
Welbeck
Valencia
Hernandez 

Manchester City Yellow cards:

Kompany
Zabaleta
Barry
Silva
Tevez
Lescott
Garcia

Ball possession

Manchester United 51%   Manchester City 49%

Match Summary:

Manchester City defeated Manchester United 2-1 in their Premier League match played at Old Trafford on Monday.

With a 15-point advantage heading into this  derby, United needed just four points from seven games to secure that 20th championship, which should have been a formality.

But though United having a fair share of the ball failed to connect twice in a goalless first half.

The Red  Devils having won each of their last seven Premier League  games  looked to extend their 18 match unbeaten run.

Van Persie and Carrick had missed connecting in the first half and paid the price thereafter.

Tonight was City's first cross-town trip since they put six past United and went ahead to claim their first league title since 1968.

And with the title seemingly out of reach this campaign, City played for pride.

They did this with determination and skill.

James Milner drilled in the first goal in the 51st minute.

Ryan Giggs's back flick  setup Gareth Barry whose cross found Samir Nasri flicking the ball off to Milner to whack a low drive past David de Gea at his near post for his fourth Premier League goal of the season.

Manchester United had a consolation goal of Kompany.

Robin van Persie's stunning inswinging free-kick was headed onto Vincent Kompany's back and into the net by Phil Jones at the far post.

But the match was far from over as the temperament of both teams were time and again tested keeping referee Mike Dean busy in the field.

Manchester City clawed back slotting in their second goal through sub Sergio Aguero.

A magnificent individual goal by Aguero gave City the lead at Old Trafford.
 
The Argentine substitute beat Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones before lashing his right-foot cracker into the roof of the net.

FULL TIME

Manchester United failed to match the strenght of City boys with absolutely no clear goal to their credit. Manchester City got the better of their old rivals defeating them at Old Trafford for a 2-1 win at full time.

94" United looking to salvage pride as the clock races to full time.

92" Four minutes of stoppage time added.

89" Referee Mike Dean kept busy today as both teams seem to have serious breaches.

86" United desperately look to get back the equaliser and push with Evra .

83" United attack once again with Van Persie on the ball but fails to beat Evra.

78" GOAL! New man in Sergio Aguero makes a solo attempt beating three defenders to send the ball to the top of the nets beating De Gea to give City a slender lead.

76" Nasri in front of the nets taps the ball to Toure who delays in taking the shot.

74" Rafael, Rooney and  Carrick plot moves but the ball is taken away by Tevez.

72" Nasri replaced with Sergio Aguero. As City attempt to stretch their lead.

67" United in the counter attack with Ashley Young darting with the ball.  David De Gea makes a quick dash rushing out of the danger zone to shoot the ball into the midfield.

64" Tevez is closely marked by Jones to dismiss any threats from the prolific striker.

60" GOAL! Kompany heads in the ball into his own net with Phil Jones rasing above the rest attempts to make contact of a flighted shot from the right flank.

56" Referee Mike Dean kept on his toes as the red devils storm ahead in desperation for a equaliser.

51" GOAL! James Milner finds the net dodging City defence to beat David De Gea under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead.

49" The Red Devils push ahead but City win the ball .

47" Danny Welbeck and Van Persie storm the rivals but a quick block in place by City defence.

46" City on the offensive.

United strike but fail to meet the mark yet again with the  half time whistle blown for a 0-0 scoreline.

45" Rafael fails to connect a Carrick pass in front of the net.

43" The clock races towards the half time mark with United's Persie and Rooney in the assault. Carricks crosses to Rafael.

42" Rooney takes the freekick volleying the ball over the City line but fails to make contact.

41" Rafael gets on top of the ball but is blocked by Kompany.

40" Both teams test their keeper on more than two ocassions but fail to break the deadlock.

38" United fail to break City wall as Pablo Zabaleta and Yaya Toure guard well their turf.

36" United in a quick counter attack with  Robin Van Persie and Ashley Young make a dash towards Joe Hart under the bar.

34" City get a free kick on the edge of the box. James Milner slams it in but United read well to thwart the danger.

33" United attack with Carrick but the ball is won by Silva in the midfield.

32" Momentum of the game increases with both teams pushing for a goal.

29" City have enjoyed 80 per cent of the possession which resulted with an opportunity for Samir Nasri.  Pablo Zabaleta's cross is handled by David Silva and referee Mike Dean shows him a yellow card.

25" City have more ball possesion but fail to find the mark with Silva and Nasri missing on two ocassions.

23" Vincent Kompany in the thick of attack. Moves the ball around in the defence.

22" Ball restricted in the midfield with both teams engaged in aerial duel.

20" United strongly defend City's surge with Nasri on the ball.

17" City's attempt to reach United's post  strongly challenged by Phil Jones and Michael Carrick.

15" City on the counter attack move the ball with Silva in action but dislodged by Giggs.

7" Robin  Van Persie misses the mark of a Rooney tap in the danger zone.

6" Gael Clichy decides to let fly with a prodigious effort, but the ball was always drifting wide of David de Gea's near post.

5" United move the ball around with Rafael and Patrice Evra combining well to  push ahead in the rivals zone.

4" City make forays into the rivals den with Tevez and Silva on the ball.

3" Both team fight for the ball looking for the odd lapse in defence.

2" City get their first free kick but danger averted for United as Danny Welbeck and Ryan Giggs win the ball over.

1" United on the offensive fail to contain the balls City win and strike with Tevez on the ball.

Alex Ferguson insists there is no chance Manchester United will allow  Manchester City the satisfaction of slowing their title charge at Old Trafford today.

TEAMS

Manchester United

De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Jones, Evra; Carrick, Giggs; Young, Rooney, Welbeck;  Van Persie.

Substitutes: Lindegaard, Buttner, Cleverley, Kagawa, Valencia, Nani, Hernandez.

Manchester City

Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy; Barry, Yaya Toure; Milner, Silva, Nasri; Tevez.
 
Substitutes: Pantilimon, Lescott, Kolo Toure, Kolarov, Garcia, Aguero, Dzeko.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Manchester United 4-2-3-1  Manchester City 4-2-3-1

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United

The likes of Wayne Rooney, Rafael and Paul Scholes should all be fit ahead of the derby.

However, Ferguson has hinted that Vidic and Evans will be unable to make the game, in which case Smalling should partner Ferdinand at the back.

Darren Fletcher is the only player who will definitely miss out and the lack of form from the wingers will mean that the wide berths are most hotly contested.

The likes of Cleverley and Jones are likely to be in competition for a place alongside Carrick, while Welbeck could be played on the left.

Manchester City

Maicon and Richards are still sidelined, but Matija Nastasic should be back available .

Samir Nasri will hope his display last weekend will have earned him a start over Milner.

Clichy will keep his place at left-back ahead of Kolarov, with Barry preferred over Javi Garcia.

MATCH FACTS

Man Utd have won their last 12 home matches in the Premier League.    

Man Utd have kept a clean sheet in their last 6 matches in the Premier League.    

Man Utd have been winning at both half time and full time in their last 6 home matches in the Premier League.    

Man Utd have seen over 2.5 goals in 6 of their last 7 home matches against Man City in all competitions.

There have been under 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Man Utd's last 6 games in the Premier League.

BUILD UP

Ferguson's team are on course to regain the Premier League crown from their bitter rivals after opening up a massive 15-point lead over champions City.

A victory against Roberto Mancini's second-placed side would move United to within touching distance of the title, but Ferguson knows City would love to at least delay their neighbours' 20th championship celebrations by winning today.

And with the finish line in sight, Ferguson is determined to ensure his players don't rest on their laurels.

And while City's inconsistent league form looks to have scuppered their hopes of retaining the title, captain Vincent Kompany believes a victory over United would at least salvage some pride.

The top two clubs in the country clash at Old Trafford in a Manchester derby which has an anti-climactic feel about it.

With a 15-point advantage heading into this derby, United need just four points from seven games to secure that 20th championship, which should be a formality.

Tonight represents City's first cross-town trip since they put six past United in that never-to-be-forgotten demolition derby as they went on to claim their first league title since 1968.

And with the title seemingly out of reach this campaign, City are focusing on securing second place and claiming a second FA Cup triumph in three years.

 

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