Two goals from Mario Balotelli
and Edin Dzeko as well as strikes
from Sergio Aguero and David
Silva condemned ten-man
Manchester United to a 6-1 derby
defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday
as a rampant Manchester City
increased their lead at the top of
the Premier League. United began
the day two points behind their
cross-city rivals but that gap has
now been extended to five.
United enjoyed the better of the
opening stages, but Balotelli put
City ahead with a classy finish
after 20 minutes. It was a
beautiful finish from the Italian,
who subsequently revealed a T-
shirt bearing the message 'Why
Always Me?' - presumably
alluding to his latest headline-
grabbing escapades.
Ferguson, perhaps hoping to
spark a reaction, sent his side out
slightly early for the second half,
but Jonny Evans' sending off
made a comeback difficult for
United, and Balotelli and Aguero
soon took advantage to build an
unassailable 3-0 lead.
Darren Fletcher's impressive long-
range effort fleetingly inspired
hope that United could conjure up
another memorable comeback,
but opportunistic late efforts from
Dzeko, Silva and then Dzeko again
emphatically put paid to the hosts'
hopes.
All that was left was the final
whistle as City claimed both the
points and local bragging rights -
opening up a gap in the title race
that a chastened United will have
to make up.
Arsenal captain Robin van Persie
came off the bench to strike twice
and earn his side a 3-1 triumph
over Stoke City at the Emirates -
the first time the Gunners have
won back-to-back Premier
League games since February.
Both teams looked to be suffering
a European hangover during a
laboured opening until Aaron
Ramsey produced a moment of
magic to create a goal for
Gervinho. The Gunners'
advantage was short-lived,
though, as Peter Crouch
highlighted Arsenal's frailties at
set-pieces shortly after the half
hour, tapping in after Ryan
Shawcross had nodded a hoisted
delivery into his path.
Arsene Wenger's side enjoyed
nearly all the possession early in
the second period without ever
looking threatening, their moves
regularly breaking down around
the 18-yard box. The introduction
of Van Persie, who surprisingly
started from the bench, changed
the game just after the hour.
First, the Netherlands international
prodded in at the near post after
meeting Gervinho's drilled centre
on 74 minutes, then the same
players combined to make the
points safe with eight minutes left,
Gervinho surging to the byline
before cutting back for Van
Persie, who sidefooted in from
the edge of the six-yard box.
Elsewhere, a third-minute goal
from Royston Drenthe set
Everton on their way as they
eventually secured a 3-1 victory
over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Toffees manager David Moyes
handed the Dutchman his first
start in the Premier League this
season, and was rewarded for his
decision almost immediately as
he ran onto Jack Rodwell's pass
and rifled a shot beyond Mark
Schwarzer. Bryan Ruiz eventually
got an equaliser for Martin Jol's
side midway through the second
half, before Louis Saha and
Rodwell both notched into injury
time to snatch away all three
points.
Topic: Manchester derby (Old played match) (Read 7860 times)
