Mario Balotelli scored twice as Manchester City defeated Manchester United 6-1 to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League after their biggest win at Old Trafford for 85 years.
The 21-year-old fired City ahead in the 22nd minute and added a second on the hour mark before Argentine striker Sergio Aguero netted a third in the 69th minute.
A brace of late goals from Edin Dzeko and a David Silva finish completed City’s scoring on a memorable afternoon as United suffered their worst home defeat in Premier League history.
United, who had Jonny Evans sent off two minutes into the second half, scored a late goal through Darren Fletcher. The defeat was United’s first league loss at Old Trafford since April 2010.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was distraught after his side’s humiliating defeat.
“You can’t believe the score-line if you look at the first 30 minutes of the game,” he said. “The sending-off was a killer. It’s a bad defeat. The impact will come from the embarrassment of the defeat. Without doubt there will be a response to that.”
City defender Micah Richards was elated at the brilliant win.
“To come here and win 6-1 is unbelievable,” he said. “People called us the noisy neighbours and here we are. We want to show people what we can do. This victory is what dreams are made of.”
Super-sub van Persie
sinks Stoke
Meanwhile, Robin van Persie underlined his importance to Arsenal by coming off the bench to fire his side to a 3-1 win over Stoke.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger wanted to rest his top-scorer for the clash but was forced to turn to the forward after Peter Crouch had cancelled out Gervinho’s opener.
Van Persie was introduced midway through the second half and netted shortly afterwards.
His second strike came seven minutes from full-time to make sure of a third win for Wenger’s team within a week and lift Arsenal into seventh place.
Everton beat Fulham
Everton scored twice in injury time to clinch a 3-1 victory over Fulham. Everton took the lead through Royston Drenthe after only three minutes before substitute Bryan Ruiz levelled for the Cottagers in the 67th minute. But with a draw looming Louis Saha made it 2-1 for Everton before Jack Rodwell scored three minutes into stoppage time.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspurs came out victorious against Blackburn, winning 2-1.
Liverpool thwarted by Norwich
Earlier, Liverpool lost ground in the race for a top-four finish after being held to a 1-1 draw by promoted Norwich. The hosts looked to be on course for a comfortable win after a one-sided first half in which Craig Bellamy put them ahead. But a superb goal from Grant Holt in the 60th minute stunned Liverpool.
Liverpool could have snatched victory in injury time but Luis Suarez was denied by a magnificent John Ruddy save.
City defender Micah Richards
“To come here and win 6-1 is unbelievable. People called us the noisy neighbours and here we are. This victory is what dreams are made of.”
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
“You can’t believe the score-line if you look at the first 30 minutes of the game. The sending-off was a killer. It’s a bad defeat.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2011.
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