Yaya Toure shattered Manchester United’s treble dream as Manchester City beat their bitter local rivals 1-0 to reach next month’s FA Cup final.
Ivory Coast midfielder Toure kept City on course for their first piece of silverware in 35 years after punishing a mistake by United midfielder Michael Carrick to settle a pulsating semi-final derby at Wembley after 52 minutes.
League leaders United, who last week advanced to the Champions League semi-finals, had Paul Scholes sent off for an ugly challenge on City defender Pablo Zabaleta as their dreams of repeating their 1999 treble were dashed.
City goalkeeper Joe Hart – who had pulled off a stunning first-half save to deny United striker Dimitar Berbatov – was ecstatic.
“It means the world to me,” said Hart. “The boys are over the moon, the fans are over the moon, the staff is over the moon.”
However, Hart, at the same time, was realistic enough not to get carried away by this victory.
“But nothing’s been won yet,” he added
City, who will play either Stoke or Bolton in the final, were worthy winners after raising their game in the second half to dominate their opponents.
Missed chances
United might have taken the lead after an extraordinary passage of play on the quarter-hour mark that saw Berbatov – starting in the absence of the suspended Wayne Rooney – miss two glorious chances in the space of a minute.
With City struggling to gain a foothold, United enjoyed the lion’s share of early possession. Meanwhile, City, missing injured Carlos Tevez in attack, had to wait until 32 minutes before their first meaningful effort on goal, Gareth Barry shooting into the side netting.
However, it was not long before City – looking far hungrier in the tackle and pressurising United relentlessly at every turn – took the lead.
With that goal, United’s efforts into City territory were fewer and fewer. An increasingly tense encounter saw Mario Balotelli become the second City player to earn a caution when he clattered into Carrick.
Referee Mike Dean’s patience finally wore out on 72 minutes, however, when Scholes was given a straight red for sinking his studs into Zabaleta’s thigh.
Thereafter, United rallied desperately but City were not to be denied.
City celebrated at the final whistle but Balotelli and United defender Rio Ferdinand needed to be separated by players and coaching staff in an ugly melee.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2011.
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