67 minutes, Manchester United 3-3 Manchester City.
The match was at a fever pitch. For the fans of both sides, it was a nail-biting spectacle—no one could predict the winner until the final whistle. For neutral viewers, however, it was a breathtaking showdown. Both teams traded relentless attacks, producing a cascade of goals.
"Come on, City!" John Spencer shouted, his son joining him.
The game had entered a decisive phase, and the atmosphere at Old Trafford was electric. Every fan in the stadium watched with bated breath, their eyes glued to the unfolding drama.
After conceding a goal to Juan Mata, Manchester City launched a fierce counterattack, driving forward with intent.
The ball zipped across the pitch, exchanged quickly between City players. Their high-tempo passing sought to carve through Manchester United's defensive structure.
David Silva, receiving a sharp pass from Yaya Toure, immediately flicked the ball out wide to Clichy. Juan Mata sprinted to close him down, but Clichy calmly redirected the ball back to Silva with a precise one-touch pass.
Mata's pressing left a slight gap in the defense. Silva exploited the opening, darting into the penalty area. Yet, Herrera and Valencia closed in tightly, giving him no room to maneuver.
Silva scanned his options: a back pass to Toure, a cutback to Kenneth in the center, a grounded cross to Aguero, or a lofted ball to the far post. The Spaniard made his choice. He delicately chipped the ball over United's defenders, aiming for the far side of the box.
Zabaleta raced into the penalty area, timing his run perfectly. He controlled the ball with a soft touch, adjusted his stance, and unleashed a precise shot toward the near post.
John Spencer leaned forward, every muscle tense.
"Ahh, De Gea! United are lucky to have a player like him," John muttered, shaking his head in disbelief as the United goalkeeper parried Zabaleta's shot with a stunning save.
In the post-Ferguson era, no player has been more vital to Manchester United than David De Gea. It's hard to argue otherwise. Had De Gea played for a club like Real Madrid, he would undoubtedly be recognized as one of the finest goalkeepers of the 2010s. While he might not embody the modern sweeper-keeper, his prowess as a traditional shot-stopper is second to none.
De Gea quickly restarted play, rolling the ball to Phil Jones. The United center-back advanced confidently, unpressured, surveying his options. After glancing to both flanks, he chose to play the ball out to the right.
Valencia dropped back to collect the pass, closely marked by Silva. Shielding the ball with his body, Valencia returned it to Jones, who, with a single touch, delivered a crisp pass to Carrick.
Kenneth shadowed Carrick persistently, refusing to give him space. This time, however, Carrick used his body to shield the ball before slipping a short pass to Herrera.
United's short passing rhythm brought them closer to City's penalty area, each pass methodical and precise.
Wayne Rooney dropped deeper to collect the ball, weaving through midfield as he searched for an opening. Spotting Blind's overlapping run, Rooney delivered a perfectly weighted through ball.
Blind surged forward, controlling the ball deftly with the inside of his foot. As Clichy closed him down, the left-back cleverly pulled the ball back, leaving his marker off balance. Without hesitation, Blind whipped in a cross to the far post, the ball arcing dangerously toward its target.
Despite being tightly marked by Kompany, Fellaini managed to head the ball with his forehead. It flew directly toward the far post. Joe Hart stretched out his hand, slowly reaching for the ball before pushing it away.
The ball landed on the right side, where Valencia sprinted to claim the rebound. Zabaleta stood firm in his path, blocking his progress, forcing Valencia to pass the ball backward to maintain possession.
Manchester United relied on short passes to hold onto the ball, even under pressure from Manchester City. A few minutes later, Kenneth attempted to dispossess Carrick but was overly aggressive, prompting the referee to blow his whistle and brandish a yellow card for the foul.
United were awarded a free kick from an ideal distance. Ashley Young stood confidently over the ball. As the referee blew the whistle, he took a few short steps, quickened his stride, and struck the ball into the penalty area.
Smalling rose above everyone else, positioning himself perfectly to meet the cross. He redirected the ball with a solid header. Joe Hart leapt high, but the ball dipped just under him, bounced off the turf, and into City's net.
Old Trafford erupted. Tens of thousands of fans roared in celebration.
"Gooooal! Smalling's precise header has turned the tide! United are relentless—a group of Spartans in disguise! City's title race is in danger!" Martin Tyler shouted at the top of his lungs.
"The mentality of these United players is incredible. Time and time again, they've fallen behind, yet they keep finding ways to equalize and even take the lead. This reminds me of the United teams under Sir Alex Ferguson," Gary Neville added.
Kenneth watched the United players celebrating the goal, frustration evident on his face. It was his foul on Carrick that led to the free kick and, indirectly, the goal. He couldn't help but feel responsible.
A hand landed on Kenneth's shoulder. Turning, he saw David Silva beside him. With an encouraging smile, Silva said, "It's not over yet. Don't wear that look on your face."
Kenneth nodded in acknowledgment.
Play resumed, and Manchester City made a change in their lineup. Nasri came on for Navas.
Trailing 4-3, City applied intense pressure on United immediately after the restart.
Zabaleta sent a diagonal pass to Fernandinho, who controlled it with a deft touch before switching the play to the left. Nasri raced to meet the ball, exchanging a quick one-two with Kenneth. Driving toward the center, Nasri drew Valencia out of position before sliding a through ball to the overlapping Clichy. The fullback burst past Valencia and delivered a precise cross into the box, aiming for Aguero.
Unfortunately for City, Phil Jones intercepted the cross with a well-timed header. Herrera, close to the loose ball, quickly passed it to Carrick. With a single kick, Carrick launched the ball over City's defenders. Ashley Young sprinted at full speed to chase it, but Joe Hart managed to reach it first.
The game continued with unrelenting intensity. City pushed desperately for an equalizer, while United sought a fifth goal to seal their victory.
In the 89th minute, Joe Hart caught Rooney's shot and immediately launched a long kick forward. The ball soared through the air before dipping down. Smalling prepared to meet it but was disrupted by Aguero, causing him to miss the header. Silva seized the loose ball and passed it into the space ahead of Nasri.
The Frenchman accelerated rapidly, chasing the ball down. Controlling it deftly, he whipped a low cross into the center for Kenneth Lee, who had evaded the offside trap. Kenneth controlled the ball with his right foot and drove into the penalty box. Just as he prepared to shoot, he suddenly felt a sharp impact on his leg, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Kenneth winced, clutching his leg in pain. He could faintly hear the referee's whistle.
"Harsh tackle from Jones! And the referee has shown him a red card! Penalty for Manchester City! This is a brilliant opportunity for the Sky Blues! Oh wait… Manchester City's medical team is escorting Lee to the sidelines; it looks like he's injured. James Milner is coming on to replace Kenneth Lee. Let's hope the young lad is okay."
As Kenneth was carried off, the tension inside Old Trafford became palpable. Both sets of fans knew the stakes: this penalty could decide the fate of the game. Aguero stepped up to the spot, placing the ball carefully on the penalty mark.
"Here comes Sergio Aguero," Martin Tyler said. "City's talisman in moments like this. Can he deliver under pressure?"
De Gea stood on the line, bouncing slightly on his toes, his eyes locked on Aguero. The referee blew his whistle, and Aguero took a calm, measured run-up.
The Argentine striker struck the ball low and hard to De Gea's left. Despite guessing the right direction, De Gea couldn't reach it. The ball slammed into the bottom corner of the net.
"Gooooal! Aguero does it again! Ice-cold under pressure! Manchester City are back on level terms with just minutes left to play!" the commentator roared.
The City players rushed to Aguero, celebrating wildly. On the sidelines, Kenneth watched from a stretcher, his frustration momentarily overshadowed by relief and pride.
The scoreline now read 4-4, setting the stage for a thrilling finale.