Manchester United 4 Manchester City 2
Saturday 14th February
Old Trafford, Manchester
Ten-man Manchester United overcame their City rivals to earn a place in the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup. Despite the fact that the Reds played for some 60 minutes with just 10 players, having had Gary Neville sent off for a head-butt, they still ran out comfortable winners in a game that was full of action.
For City, dropping out of the cup leave them having to accept that this is to be another trophy-less season, as the last 28 have been.
United were dominant in midfield from the off, with Roy keane typically dominating play. With Ronaldo and Giggs on the wings, and Scholes playing as a deep striker (Saha was cup-tied) United had a very attacking formation.
Two half-chances fell to Ronaldo and Keane before United's firsat goal. First Cristiano blasted wide from a free-kick, then Keane had a free header at the back-post, but failed to jump high enough to get any purchase on the ball.
The goal came on 34 minutes, with Scholes once again breaking City hearts, as he had done just months earlier. Van Nistelrooy played the ball wide into Giggs' path on the left hand side. The Welshman was able to send the ball flying on the ground into the box. Whilst Reyna pulled away from touching the ball, fearing an own-goal, Scholes followed up behind him and was able to dink the ball over Arason from close-range.
With United winning, and in a very strong position, Gary Neville nearly blew it. Following a charge into the box Neville was tripped up. The dubious penalty was not given, and Neville reacted by smacking the floor repeatedly. On his way up he was surely manhandled by Tarnat out of the camera's view, because his temper was suddenly blown. McManaman confronted him, trying to cause trouble, and pushed his head forward. Neville did the same, though a little more forcefully, and was sent off, deservedly so. Despite the two-minute scuffle which left Silvestre on the floor clutching his face, City received just a yellow card to Joey Barton - one of their less-talented players.
Half-time allowed Fergie to compose his team, and they began the second half with patience. A few near misses and three fabulous saves from Tim Howard, one from the feet of Scouse 'Spice Boy' McManaman. There is only one thing worse to United fans than a City player, and that is a City player from Liverpool.
Van Nistelrooy finally killed the game off on 70 minutes, before Ronaldo added another to bring the score to 3 0.
City's tarnat managed to find space in the area for a consolation goal, but that was all it was. Van Nistelrooy, keen to settle the defence, scored again from his trademark range. From a Ronaldo free-kick Keane headed down, and the ball fell invitingly to Ruud's feet just a yard out from goal.
Robbie Fowler scored another for City though he should have been booked for unsportsmanlike behaviour. Having seemingly decided against a quick free-kick he had taken thirty seconds to sort himself he hit the ball to the far side of the goal, whilst Howard was still sorting his wall on the other post.
Winter's hapless refereeing infuriated the fans and Fergie, but it seems he wants to become a star in his own right talking freely to the media afterwards when more respected referees would have kept their composure and neutrality.
Man Utd: Howard, Gary Neville, O'Shea, Silvestre, Fortune, Ronaldo, Phil Neville (Brown 90), Keane, Giggs (Butt 88), Scholes, van Nistelrooy.
Subs not used: Carroll, Forlan, Fletcher. Sent Off: Gary Neville (39). Booked: Gary Neville.
Man City: Arason, Van Buyten, Dunne, Distin, Tarnat, Wright-Phillips, McManaman, Reyna, Barton, Sibierski, Fowler.
Subs not used: Stuhr-Ellegaard, Wiekens, Macken, Bosvelt, Elliott. Booked: Tarnat, Barton.
Referee: J Winter (Cleveland)