
- Ronaldo was sent off for two bookings at Manchester City
Sunday, November 30th, City of Manchester Stadium, England
Manchester City 0 - 1 Manchester United (Rooney, 42)
Wayne rooney scored his 100th league goal as Manchester United ground out a vital victory on Sunday against fierce rivals Manchester City. United Dominated for long periods of the game and could have scored more if not for some fine goalkeeping from Joe Hart.
Rooney was the games’ only scorer, having tapped in after Dimitar Berbatov saw his low shot parried by Hart. The one negative for United was the dismissal of Cristiano Ronaldo in the 68th minute for two bookable offences after he inexplicably handled the ball following a City corner. Ronaldo said “I heard a wistle. Thats why I block the ball. Why else would I have done that?” It was a bizare incident that brought back memories of when Paolo DiCanio caught the ball during a premier League match because the opposing goalkeeper was down injured.
Ronaldo’s prior booking was for a foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips
This is Ronny’s 2nd ever red card as a Manchester United player, but his manager was not critical of his young star. Ferguson said “He thought he had heard a whistle, he got a little push as well and it is not as if he punched the ball. The crowd played a part and he got sent off.”
However, City boss Mark Hughes agreed with referee Howard Webb’s decision, and added: “I don’t think the referee had any choice. I thought he was going to catch it at one point.
“It was a clear handball. It was a soft sending off but clearly a second bookable offence.
“I don’t know what reason he will give for doing it but if he says the ball was going to hit him in the face why didn’t he head it?”
Man City: Hart, Richards (Sturridge 76), Kompany, Dunne, Garrido, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Hamann (Elano 46), Vassell (Zabaleta 46), Robinho, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Schmeichel, Ball, Jo, Ben-Haim.
Booked: Ireland, Vassell.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Fletcher, Park (O’Shea 90), Rooney, Berbatov (Giggs 83).
Subs Not Used: Foster, Anderson, Nani, Evans, Tevez.
Sent Off: Ronaldo (68).
Booked: Rafael Da Silva, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Evra, Carrick.
Goals: Rooney 42.
Att: 47,320
Ref: Howard Webb
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