It was the most anticipated derby of the Manchester teams in recent times. Manchester United and Manchester City had everyone savoring the thought of a very interesting match and it definitely lived up to it. The date was Sunday September 20, 2009 and the time – early evening 4pm local time was perfect!
The game had 7 goals for us neutrals it was a delight to watch as it must have been for fans of both teams as the goals were scored. Manchester United scored first through who? Of course, their current hit man Wayne Rooney. Gareth Barry equalized for City after a superb persistent play by former United man who was eager to show his old club what they let go, Carlos Tevez (who by the way also had a glorious chance to put his side in front but his strike hit the post). Fletcher rises highest and heads home United’s second goal while Craig Bellamy’s absolutely stunning strike made it 2 – 2.
Ten minutes to the end of the match and the twists begins. Darren Fletcher gets his second goal to put United in front once again, and Craig Bellamy shows Rio Ferdinand how fast cheetahs run as he gets on the end of Martin Petrov’s pass to score the equalizer on the 90th minute of play. Bellamy runs off celebrating (for 55 seconds) justifiably so after scoring a potentially game saving goal in a crucial derby. 4 minutes of added time was decided for extra time and here’s where the problem starts. Michael Owen scores a 96.27 minute goal (celebrates most probably longer than Bellamy did) and Manchester United win the derby.
There’s so much truth in ‘it’s not over until the fat lady sings’ phrase which Man City bitterly realized after the last goal! According to reports after the game, extra time was added to the extra time due to Man U substitution (Carrick coming on for Anderson) and most impactfully Craig Bellamy’s celebration was termed excessive because he celebrated for 55secs! Are you kidding? Excessive celebration in a derby and at the end of regulation time? Are you kidding?
Certain questions beg to be asked such as: Again? Too many times have Manchester United at Old Trafford been involved in an extra-time drama that always seems to favor them. Are referees intimated by Sir Alex? Or are they just in awe of the stadium and the atmosphere? If extra time was added due to Bellamy’s celebration why wasn’t the same ruled applied after Owen scored? Owen’s celebration wasn’t considered excessive? Why did referee Martin Atkinson fall victim of the Old Trafford ‘stigma’? Was he influenced by history or was he trying to get it so right that his extra time decision became controversial and ultimately making history?
The truth is, the longer the game goes the higher the chances of lapse of concentration by either team to be punished by the other, as it is in the case of Man City. But since when did the referees become so extra technical about extra time? And since when did an excessive celebration warrant the same amount of seconds the celebration lasted for extra time in extra time? Among many other things referees are responsible for on the pitch, timing is also at their discretion. But a referee’s discretion is swayed by several things and it begs the question: what impact does Old Trafford have on the discretion and timing of the referee in charge at any given game?
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