Manchester City vs Manchester United - City Prevails with First Half Goal

Manchester took the helm of the English Premier League with a first half goal by Vincent Kompany.  The final two matchdays will no doubt be exciting.  Should both Manchester fans prevail in their last two matches, it could come down to the goal difference to decide the Premier League.

Matchday 36 feature between the top two clubs of the Premier League promised to be a nailbiter, with just three points separating the two clubs.  City needed a win to draw even with their neighbours from Old Trafford, while United could afford a draw.  A United win would make it difficult for City to win the coveted Barclay's championship.

Manchester United dominated the opening 15 minutes in the first half, while City became stronger as the game moved along.  The defensive play on both sides was superb, but Vincent Kompany created mayhem when he headed the ball into the net after an assist by David Silva.  in the 45th minute.  Manchester took the advantage as the Manchester City skipper put Manchester ahead at the stroke of 45 minutes.  His third goal of the season.   City led after 45 minutes.

The second half went in long phases, with United pushing to get the equalizer.  Obviously a lot was at stake.  Should City prevail, the two clubs would be equal in points.  City went into the defensive mode, countering whenever the situation made it possible.  

The final phase of the match was indeed a nailbiter, especially with the added five minutes for injury time.  In the end the better team prevailed.  City takes the helm of the Premier league with goal difference.  What a finish it will be for the last two matchdays of Barclays.

Manchester City:  Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Joleon Nescott, Vincent Kompany, Gael Clichy, Gareth Barry, Gnegneri Toure Yaya, David Silva (Micah Richards 82nd), Carlos Tevez Nigel de Jong (68th), Samir Nasri (James Milner 90+2), Sergio Aguero

Manchester United:  David de Gea, Phil Jones, Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling, Patrice Evra, Luis Nani (Ashley Young 82nd), Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes (Antonio Valencia (78th) , Ji-Sung Park (Danny Welbeck 58th), Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney



MATCHDAY 36

28TH APRIL

MATCH                                                       STADIUM

EVERTON vs FULHAM                    Goodison Park, Liverpool                  4-0
STOKE CITY vs ARSENAL              Britannia Stadium, Stoke on Trent     1-1
SUNDERLAND vs BOLTON            Stadium of the Light, Sunderland       2-2
SWANSEA CITY vs WOLVES          Liberty Stadium, Swansea                  4-4
W.B.A. vs ASTON VILLA                 The Hawthorns, West Bromwich        0-0
WIGAN vs NEWCASTLE                 DW Stadium, Wigan                           4-0
NORWICH CITY vs LIVERPOOL    Carrow Road, Norwich                       0-3

29TH APRIL

CHELSEA Chelsea vs Q.P.R.              Stamford Bridge, London                  6-1
TOTTENHAM vs BLACKBURN       White Hart Lane, London                 2-0

30TH APRIL

MANCHESTER CITY vs MANCHESTER UTD  Etihad Stadium, Manchester 1-0

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POSTPONED MATCHDAY 34

1ST MAY

LIVERPOOL vs  FULHAM     Anfield Stadium, Liverpool                   0-1
STOKE CITY vs EVERTON    Britannia Stadium, Stoke on Trent        1-1

2ND MAY

CHELSEA vs NEWCASTLE    Stamford Bridge, London                     0-2
BOLTON vs TOTTENHAM      Reebok Stadium, Bolton                      1-4




POS LP         CLUB                                             P     W   D   L    GF GA  GD  PTS
                                           
1 MANCHESTER CITY                                       36  26   5  5      88   27     61   83
2 MANCHESTER UNITED                                 36  26   5   5      86   33     53   83
3 ARSENAL F.C.                                                   36  20   6 10     69   45      24   66
4TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS                                36  19    8   9    63   40      25   65
5 NEWCASTLE                                                     36  19    8   9    55   46       9    65
6 CHELSEA F.C.                                                    36  17   9   10    62  41      23   61
7 EVERTON F.C.                                                   36 14    10  12   47  39         8   52
8 FULHAM F.C.                                                     36   13  10  13    46  48      -2    49
9 LIVERPOOL F.C.                                                36  13  10  13    33  38        5    49
10 SUNDERLAND F.C.                                         35   11   12  13   44  43       3    45
11 W.B.A.                                                                 35   13   6  16    41  47       -6   45
12 SWANSEA CITY                                               36   11   11  14   43  49      -6    44
13 NORWICH CITY                                               36  11  10  15    44  61     -16    43
14 STOKE CITY                                                      36   11  11  14   34  50     -16   41
157WIGAN ATHLETIC                                          36     9  10  17    38  60     -22   37
16 ASTON VILLA                                                   35     7  15  13   36  50     -14   36
17 Q.P.R.                                                                   36     9   7  20     39  63    -23   34
18 BOLTON WANDERERS                                    36     10   4  22  31  72     -31   34
19 BLACKBURN ROVERS                                    36      8   7  22    47  75     -28   31
20 WOLVERHAMPTON                                         36      5    9 22    38  79     -41   24

Manchester United vs Everton 4-4

Despite a 4-2 lead with just 22 minutes remaining, Everton fought back with goals in the 82nd and 84th minute to take a point at Old Trafford.  The draw gives Manchester City hope to capture the Premier League championship. Manchester United still has a six point advantage at this stage, a lead that can be narrowed to three with a win by City against the Wolves later on today.   The if City can defeat United on April 30th, the two teams would be equal in points, with City having the goal difference advantage.  City has a four goal lead on United.

Nicica Jelavice opened the scoring in the 333rd minutes with a header into the United net.  Wayne Rooney got the equalizer in the 41st minute with a headed goal inside the six yard box. Danny Welbeck found the top right corner of the net, with a shout from just outside the penalty box to give United the 2-1 lead in the 57th minute.

Luis Nani upped the Manchester lead to 3-1 in the 61st minute when he found the bottom left of the net from close range. In the 67th minute Marouane Fellaini narrowed the United lead to 3-2, when he found the back of the net with a brilliant goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal.

In the 69th minute Wayne Rooney seemed to seal the fate for Everton with his second goal of the afternoon, when he found the bottom left of the net from deep inside the penalty area.  Nikica Jelavic put new life into the Everton side, when he scored his second goal of the night in the 83rd minute. It was another goal deep inside the box, surprising the United defence.

Steven Pienaar made the Everton comeback complete with his goal in the 85th minute.  After Pienaar's goal there were many more nailbiting situations inside the Everton box.  As regulation time came to an end. another five minutes of extra time were indicated.  Just before the final whistle, United was awarded on last corner.  Everton's comeback was complete when the ball was kicked out of the danger zone into the midfield. 

The quest for the Premier League championship could very well be contested on the very last matchday of the season.