Summary

City could not prevent United from edging nearer the title but could have had a draw had Darius Vassell’s penalty not been saved with 10 minutes to go. Ronaldo’s spot kick had United ahead before the break after they had hit the bar twice, but try as they might City could not claw back the deficit, with the fans rueing the second missed penalty in consecutive weeks. 

City made two changes to the side that started against Villa, with Beasley & Johnson in for Barton and Samaras. Paul Dickov was back on the bench after nearly four months out with injury, no doubt itching to get a crack at United for the first time in years. For the visitors, Smith and Ferdinand were back after missing the defeat in Milan the previous Wednesday.

The Match

Everything was set fair for a cracking occasion, with superb weather, the pitch in perfect order, banners galore and tens of thousands of blue & white scarves left on every City seat waved furiously as the teams emerged.

The first talking point of the day came after less than two minutes when Ronaldo went down in a heap after a challenge from Johnson and Ball.

City had the woodwork to thank for keeping the scores level on 10 minutes, Vidic heading a Giggs cross onto the bar from the edge of the six yard box.

The next action was at the other, Mpenza getting in a decent volley on the turn from near the penalty spot that van der Sar dived low to his left to save.

Halfway through the first period and United hit the bar again, Ferdinand drifting in at the backpost at a corner to nod it goalwards, Isaksson gratefully taking the rebound.

Beasley fired in a first-time effort that van der Sar was right behind on 29 minutes, and seconds later Johnson tried to find Mpenza when he might have had time to get a shot of his own in on goal.

Sadly for City the next goalmouth action saw the visitors take the lead on 33 minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo was tripped by Michael Ball as he moved past City’s left back inside the area, and despite Isaksson not moving during the stop-start run up to his spot kick the Swedish keeper was still sent the wrong way as the Portuguese winger put the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Emile Mpenza was as tireless as ever in his lone role up front and he moved towards the by-line with three minutes to the break, but his cross was blocked and despite chasing the rebound he could not prevent United’s defence clearing.

Ronaldo went to ground too easily under pressure from Distin in the box as we approached half time, and Rob Styles correctly ignored his protests as the home fans aired their disgust.

Sun Jihai replaced Didi Hamann at half time.

City made a spirited start to the second half, Mpenza in particular doing well to win the ball back near the touchline, but unable to create something that would threaten van der Sar.

Sinclair, on for Hamann, won a corner on 63 and Mpenza’s powerful header, from beyond the penalty spot, flew a couple of yards wide of the right post.

Paul Dickov replaced Ireland with 22 minutes left to a big ovation, the striker making his first appearance since the cup tie at Hillsborough in January.

And then unbelievably, with 11 minutes left, there was penalty heartbreak for City for the second week in a row. Ball was hauled down by Brown as he broke into the box, and Darius Vassell stepped up in the absence of more regular penalty takers in Barton and Samaras. Edwin van der Sar delayed proceedings and was booked, but Vassell’s low shot, just to the left of centre, struck the Dutchman on the shin and rebounded away.

The game had livened up, with first Dickov and then Giggs going into the book. Rooney, quiet for most of the day, burst down the middle but was expertly robbed by Sylvain Distin.

City tried their best, but United camped out in the Blues half for the last few minutes. Dickov tangled with Ferdinand as he chased into the corner, but there was no altercation and thankfully no further booking for the striker.

The three minutes of stoppage time ended and City’s home campaign was over for the season, with the Blues rueing yet another missed spot kick.