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On This Day: Ten Years Ago, Michael Owen Scores Late Manchester Derby Winner

On This Day: Ten Years Ago, Michael Owen Scores Late Manchester Derby Winner

The score was 3-3 going into extra time until a Owen popped up and decided the game for Manchester United...

Dan Marland

Dan Marland

On this day ten years ago, Michael Owen shockingly scored an injury time winner to give Manchester United an iconic 4-3 victory over Manchester City.

The game has been referred to as 'the best derby of all time' by Sir Alex Ferguson and it's not hard to see why.


Sir Alex Ferguson celebrating the derby victory (Image
PA)

United were missing Edwin van der Sar between the sticks while Paul Scholes was serving a one match ban.

City were without top scorer Emmanuel Adebayor and had former United man Carlos Tevez making his first appearance back at Old Trafford.

Despite this, the game didn't disappoint featuring a wide array of quality, mistakes but most importantly, drama.


The game looked won for United at 3-2 but a Rio Ferdinand mistake allowed Craig Bellamy to run though and slide the ball past Ben Foster in the 90th minute for his second of the game.

The City players emphatically celebrated thinking they'd snatched a point.

But the time they used to celebrate went on to add to the length of injury time.


Bellamy celebrates his second of the game (Image
PA)

The following six minutes went on to provide one of the Premier Leagues most iconic moments.

Michael Owen had signed a pay-as-you-play deal with 'The Red Devils' in the summer and made an impact in his first derby.

Owen came on as a substitute ten minutes from time with United fans still not fully embracing the England international due to his Liverpool ties.


Michael Owen celebrates his last gasp winner with teammates (Image
PA)

None of that mattered 15 minutes later.

Ryan Giggs collected the ball in midfield and slid it through to an unmarked Owen on the edge of the box.

The former Newcastle man found himself one on one with Shay Given and prodded the ball into the bottom right corner to snatch a victory for United.



Of the five Premier League goals Owen scored for United this ranked as his most important.

The 39-year-old discussed the goal in his recently released autobiography, 'Michael Owen: Reboot - My Life, My Time'.

Per ManUtd.com, he explained:

"In the moments and hours after the game, there was a huge feeling of joy and relief. I'd scored an iconic goal in such an important game.


Image
PA

"I knew right then that it was a moment I'd always be remembered for.

"I lived for moments like that."

We certainly remember it.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Manchester City, Manchester United, Giggs, Michael Owen, Ryan Giggs