Benjani Mwaruwari gets City winner on his debut

United 1 City 2

MANCHESTER City recorded their first victory at Old Trafford since 1974 thanks to first-half strikes from Darius Vassell and new boy Benjani Mwaruwari.

Before the game a minute's silence in honour of those who died in the Munich tragedy was impeccably observed inside the ground, although bangs from outside were heard.

The win completed a rare double for the Blues over United, the feat last achieved in the 1969/70 season.

If anything, City appeared more focused on the game and although United enjoyed more of the ball, the Blues passed the ball around with assurance.

Martin Petrov was causing problems down the left, and after he sent Ireland through the rebound fell to Darius Vassell, who finished at the second time of asking.

City new boy Benjani Mwaruwari doubled the lead when he flicked home a Petrov cross on the stroke of half time.

The Blues remained fairly comfortable after the break, with new signing Felipe Caicedo coming on after 74 minutes. Michael Carrick scored a goal in injury times to give Blues fans a nervous ending, but it proved only to be a consolation.

The Old Trafford pitch was ringed ahead of the game by the names of every one of the 23 who died as a result of the 1958 tragedy in Germany.

The team sheet numbered United’s men one to 16, while City stuck to their usual numbering on special commemorative shirts devoid of sponsors’ logos. The Reds’ V-neck tops were also a copy of the famous 50’s jerseys worn by the Busby Babes.

United were without the suspended Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra, while Owen Hargreaves was dropped to the bench. John O’Shea, Nani and Anderson came into the side.

City had Vedran Corluka banned while Daniel Sturridge was also left out. New boy Benjani made his debut with Nedum Onuoha coming into defence.

From the start, United flowed towards City's goal, Giggs seeing a seventh-minute volley touched over by Joe Hart.

City’s first effort came after 13 minutes when Benjani’s persistence gave Petrov the chance to fire over from 20 yards. Then Stephen Ireland saw a header from Michael Ball’s cross held by Edwin van der Sar.

Eriksson’s side were getting closer and it needed a faint touch from Nemanja Vidic’s head to flick a Gelson Fernandes cross away from the waiting Benjani.

And in the 24th minute City stole ahead. Ireland found Petrov and raced on into the box to take the return. The ball broke to Vassell who saw his first shot hit Van der Sar, but he was quickly on to the rebound to blast the ball home, sending City’s horde wild.

United hit back and Hart saved superbly from a Carlos Tevez shot on the turn. Then Cristiano Ronaldo lifted a 25-yard free-kick over the bar.

But City weathered the storm and hit back with a fierce Petrov cross that Van der Sar managed to turn away from Fernandes.

And a minute from the break City went two ahead.

Petrov’s angled cross was flicked on by Benjani and the ball squeezed just inside the far post. It was the second time this season the Zimbabwean had scored against United, the first being for Portsmouth.

A minute after the break, Dietmar Hamann unleashed a 30-yarder that Van der Sar pulled down.

But United were soon camped in City’s territory, searching for the break that would get them back into the game.

Tevez thought he had done just that when he turned in a deflection but he was correctly judged offside.

O’Shea was booked for a late tackle on Vassell after 57 minutes before the excellent Ireland should have made better use of a breakaway after he intercepted a pass, but he failed to find Benjani or Fernandes.

United then sent on Hargreaves and Michael Carrick for O’Shea and Anderson. City responded by withdrawing Benjani and sending on £5m new boy Felipe Caceido for his debut.

Giggs flashed a shot just wide of the far post, but time was ticking away and the only noise was coming from City’s delighted fans.

In injury-time, Carrick drove the ball home from the edge of the box but it was too little, too late for United.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Vidic, Ferdinand, O'Shea (Carrick 73), Nani (Park 64), Scholes, Anderson (Hargreaves 73), Giggs, Ronaldo, Tevez.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Simpson.

Booked: O'Shea.

Goals: Carrick 90.

Man City: Hart, Onuoha, Richards, Dunne, Ball, Vassell, Ireland, Hamann (Jihai 84), Gelson, Petrov (Garrido 87), Mwaruwari (Caicedo 75).
Subs Not Used: Isaksson, Geovanni.

Goals: Vassell 25, Mwaruwari 45.

Att: 75,970

Ref: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).