Was this the defining match (2011) that helped tip the balance of power in Manchester to the blue half of the city? The neighbors met in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley Stadium, with City emerging victorious thanks to Yaya Toure's second-half strike. City went on to win the cup, beating Stoke in the final to end a 35-year wait for a major trophy, and has dominated English soccer ever since with 15 trophies in the last 12 years.
This match gains more modern-day relevance (2001) because of the presence of Erling Haaland in City's current treble-chasing team. After all, it was his father, Alf-Inge, who played a central role in the game after he was on the end of a brutal knee-high challenge by Roy Keane that earned the United captain a red card at Old Trafford.
In terms of excitement, this was perhaps the best derby ever (2009) and it had a fitting finish with Michael Owen coming on as a substitute poking home the winning goal for United in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Alex Ferguson called it his worst day in charge of United (2011) and it was understandable why, with his team falling to its biggest Premier League loss at the time and the club's worst defeat at Old Trafford since 1955. The best-remembered goal was by Mario Balotelli, who after scoring the opener in the 22nd minute lifted up his City jersey to reveal a T-shirt with the message Why Always Me? on it.
The most famous Manchester derby (1974) of them all because of the identity of the goal scorer. Denis Law didn't celebrate after backheeling the ball into the net in the 81st minute to give City the win against a club where he had spent 11 years and was part of the Holy Trinity also containing Bobby Charlton and George Best.
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