United started brightly, and it took only 2 minutes for their attacking style to overwhelm the City defense, as Wayne Rooney slotted the ball into the back of the net with a wonderful individual effort. For the next quarter of an hour, the game was not a contest. City looked as though the occasion would get the better of them, as they saw very little of the ball and appeared to lack the confidence to make anything happen when they were in possession.
It wasn't until the equalising goal that the match really took off. After a relatively impressive start to the season between the sticks, Ben Foster's calamitous error allowed Carlos Tevez to wrestle the ball away, and pass it to Gareth Barry to slot the ball into an empty net. The remainder of the first half saw City enjoy their most impressive spell of the match, but they were unable to find the goal that would put them ahead. City finished the half a far better committed and confident side that began the match.
Once more however, United were the more impressive side out of the blocks in the second half. Two of United's most effective players on the field connected within 5 minutes of the restart, as Ryan Giggs' beautifully flighted cross landed on the head of Darren Fletcher. City fought back again though, as Craig Bellamy took advantage of United's dithery defense with a destructive strike from outside the box. United pushed on and regained their composure, and their dominant second half performance wore City down, barely allowing them any time to re-organise. Darren Fletcher thought he'd found the winner again, when he exploited the gaps in City's zonal defensive system, but Rio Ferdinand's astonishing mistake at the back allowed City a last-gasp equaliser to secure themselves a 3-3 draw and a point. Or so they thought.
Referee Martin Atkinson enjoyed an impressive game, and the FA will defend his decision to allow the clock to run all the way up to 96 minutes, during which United's Michael Owen was able to net a dramatic winning goal. After signalling that there would be 'at least' (an important phrase which is often lost in the allotment of additional time) 4 minutes added on, City scored their 3rd goal, taking a good 60-90 seconds off the clock, and United made the substitution which saw Carrick replace Anderson (FA rules stipulate that 30 additional seconds must be played for each substitution made). City will be fuming about the time which the referee added on, but it was done by the book, and they should kick themselves, and not the ref, for lacking the concentration to see the game out.
In terms of individual performances, Ryan Giggs and Darren Fletcher for United were impressive, with the latter continuing to go from strength to strength as the engine of United's midfield. Shay Given too deserves a mention, who made 4 or 5 good saves to deny United during their second half dominance.
United will be relieved then, that their defensive frailties did not cost them what were deserved three points. City will be frustrated at the manner of the defeat, but should take heart from the way in which they acquitted themselves throughout. City have now produced two good performances against both Manchester United and Arsenal, and have proven to themselves and the world that, on their day, they are capable of competing with the big boys. What remains to be seen however, is whether they can stay the course over a 38-game season and really compete for a title. City have attracted a lot of criticism for the way in which they've splashed their cash, but if the new era at the club continues to produce Manchester derbies this electric and this competitive in the coming years, then the Premiership has a lot to look forward to.
