Chapter 893 Tit for Tat

After the game started, both sides played very cautiously.

The Manchester United team, playing at home, worked hard to control the ball in the midfield and backcourt. There were far more safe cross-back passes than forward direct and diagonal passes.

The Manchester City team playing away from home was even worse. They only had forward Tevez through the half, and his calmness was ready in his own half.

Manchester United's ball was only half way, and Manchester City's players followed the others. Once Manchester United passed the ball, Manchester City's players immediately pounced on it and surrounded it.

Manchester City had almost 10 players in their own half, and Manchester United did not invest many troops in the frontcourt. Manchester City almost grabbed every opportunity.

However, Manchester United also stationed troops in the backcourt. If Manchester City grabbed the ball, it would not be able to threaten Manchester United's goal without investing a large number of troops. If too many troops were invested, Manchester United's counterattack would be as fast as lightning, and Manchester City could not bear it. Therefore, Manchester City also failed to pose a threat to Manchester United's goal when they seized the ball.

Both Manchester United and Manchester City played a bit conservatively, fighting in the midfield. In the first five minutes, neither entered the opponent's penalty area.

However, the fans of both sides were not in a hurry and watched the game patiently, applauding their teams' wonderful cooperation and excellence from time to time. They knew that the Manchester Derby would never be played like this for 90 minutes.

Neither Manchester United nor Manchester City will accept a 0:0 draw. Now it depends on who loses composure first, or who catches the opponent's first flaw first.

In the 8th minute of the game, Manchester City controlled the ball. Yaya Toure got rid of Rooney's entanglement, suddenly broke through with the ball, and strode into Manchester United's half.

This change of pace was sudden. Manchester United's Anderson was not experienced enough. He chose to pounce and was passed by Yaya Toure.

After Anderson was out of position, Manchester United and Fletcher were all on the defensive line. In fact, the danger was not great.

However, Yaya Toure did not continue to dribble the ball. He passed the ball to Tevez and ran forward himself. Smallin rushed over to prevent Yaya Toure from receiving the ball.

Although Tevez prefers to work alone, when facing Manchester United's entire defense today, he chose to cooperate with Toure. Before Smallin arrived, Toure touched the ball first and then gave it to Tevez. Wes made a wall.

Manchester City's two one-twos were too fast. Fletcher and Smalling were instantly left behind. Vidic could only come over to block Tevez who was about to reach the penalty area line.

Tevez was very excited today and handled the ball very crisply.

After the ball reached his feet, he didn't pause at all and passed it diagonally to Silva who inserted into the right side of the small penalty area.

Full-back O'Shea has not yet made up for it, and Silva scored a single goal.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar stood at the back of the court with a good view. He had an unobstructed view of the entire court. Moreover, he was experienced and had discovered the threat of Silva in advance. As soon as Tevez passed the ball over, Van der Sar quickly struck out. , blocking Silva's breakthrough and shooting route.

The full-back rushed to help defend, and the goalkeeper rushed to block it. Silva picked the ball at the last moment, trying to pick the ball over goalkeeper Van der Sardy's head and lob it into the back corner of the goal.

The distance was too close, and Van der Sar couldn't react in time, and the ball flew over his head.

Because Van der Sardy was too tall, Silva's lob shot was too high, and the ball bounced off the crossbar.

Manchester City hit the wall several times in one-twos. None of the Manchester City fans who came to support in the stands cheered. They held their breath and waited for the final fatal blow. Unexpectedly, the ball hit the crossbar.

"Alas! What a pity!"

Manchester City fans stamped their feet and beat their chests, wishing they could rush onto the pitch and take a shot.

This attack was very sudden. Manchester City did not invest many troops. Only three players created a single chance. This really shocked the Manchester United fans.

On-site commentator Andy Gray praised: "Manchester City now cannot be underestimated. They are no longer a noisy neighbor. Now they are third in the Premier League and may be a strong opponent of Manchester United for the championship next season."

This is the Old Trafford Stadium, the holy place in the hearts of Manchester United fans. Since the beginning of the Premier League, Manchester City derby has been held 27 times, including 13 at home. Manchester United has only lost once. How can they allow Manchester City to be here? act wildly.

After Blue Moon completed this beautiful attack, the Red Devils fans immediately let out a loud shout, encouraging their players to give back to their mortal enemy.

In fact, there was no need for encouragement from the fans. Manchester United's players grabbed the pop-up ball and launched a fierce attack.

Gao Xiaodong's position today was in front of the two defensive midfielders Anderson and Fletcher. Manchester City had just invested few troops and he did not return to defend. Unexpectedly, his two defensive midfielders and a complete defense line were almost defeated by three opponents. exploded.

Gao Xiaodong was very angry. He cursed Anderson as an idiot, took Smallin's pass and led it to the frontcourt.

Gao Xiaodong was scolding Anderson, but he and Anderson often quarreled. Anderson didn't care, but Fletcher was angry. He thought to himself, he was arrogant when he first became the vice-captain. The opponent attacked so suddenly, and hit the wall twice in a row. Two formulas cross one, who can react?

The Manchester City players had already guessed that Manchester United would launch a retaliatory attack. Their formation quickly recovered. When Gao Xiaodong dribbled the ball across the half court, three people formed a zigzag to surround Gao Xiaodong.

Gao Xiaodong suddenly stopped and turned around, as if he was going to pass the ball back to Anderson, but when Milner moved sideways to grab it, he flicked his ankle, penetrated Milner's crotch, and passed the ball crosswise to Giggs. Reflex and thrust forward.

When Giggs saw Gao Xiaodong turn around, he understood the situation and passed the ball horizontally to the empty space behind Milner.

This is a common routine of Manchester United. It mainly involves other teammates acting as a wall for Gao Xiaodong to break the opponent's double-teaming tactics.

After Gao Xiaodong passed the ball through the crotch, he quickly moved forward, but he was Manchester United's most threatening point. Even if they were not prepared in advance, when Gao Xiaodong moved forward, Barry was still following Gao Xiaodong.

However, Gao Xiaodong did not stop the ball. He had already adjusted his steps while running. When the ball arrived, when he was about thirty meters away from the goal, Gao Xiaodong shot the ball with a furious kick. Toward the goal.

Manchester City goalkeeper Hart felt confident when he saw Gao Xiaodong go to get the ball. He was ready and waiting for Gao Xiaodong to shoot.

The ball roared in, and Hart shouted, leaped up, and punched the ball in with one fist.

"good!"

"pretty!"

"This is a man's ball!"

…

Seeing Gao Xiaodong complete a beautiful long-range shot and forcing goalkeeper Hart to make a save, the Manchester United fans in the stands were very happy and relieved. They all applauded Gao Xiaodong.

Manchester United got a chance for a corner kick, Giggs took the penalty, and Gao Xiaodong stood outside the penalty area waiting for a long shot.

Manchester City's players did not dare to neglect and specifically asked Tevez to mark Gao Xiaodong.

Giggs made a forward shot and wanted to cooperate with Rooney, but Manchester City's defense was very close. Richardson headed over the baseline before Rooney, and Manchester United continued to take corner kicks.

This time it was Giggs who took the penalty. The Manchester City defender was very capable in the air. Giggs gave up passing to the penalty area for the second time. He made a long pass to the front of the penalty area to find Gao Xiaodong.

This pass was a bit sudden, but Mancini's defensive arrangement was really thorough. Tevez did not block the position, but followed Gao Xiaodong. When Gao Xiaodong stopped the ball, he took a shot to destroy or foul.

However, Gao Xiaodong looked at the situation and gave up on stopping the ball. He accelerated and rushed over, leaping high and heading the ball towards the upper right corner of the goal with a header from outside the penalty area.

This is an extremely unexpected way of handling the ball. Even Tevez did not expect Gao Xiaodong to directly header the ball towards the goal. He ran closely behind Gao Xiaodong, but became a spectator when Gao Xiaodong shot.

The header outside the penalty area was not strong enough and not fast enough, but Gao Xiaodong's header was at an extremely tricky angle. Goalkeeper Hart almost turned into a gibbon before he managed to poke the ball over the crossbar with his fingertips.

After the ball was saved, the Manchester City players were shocked and quickly came over to touch goalkeeper Hart.

Manchester United fans also sighed. It is a pity that Gao Xiaodong's wonderful header failed to break through the opponent's goal.