Yaya Toure shattered Manchester United’s treble dream on Saturday as Manchester City beat their bitter local rivals 1-0 to reach next month’s FA Cup final.
Toure kept City on course for their first piece of silverware in 35 years after punishing a mistake by United midfielder Michael Carrick to settle a pulsating semi-final derby at Wembley after 52 minutes.
United had Paul Scholes sent off for an ugly challenge on City defender Pablo Zabaleta.
Photo: Reuters
City manager Roberto Mancini could not hide his delight at the final whistle, dedicating the victory to the club’s army of fans, who reveled in their first day out at Wembley for more than a decade.
“I’m very happy, but I’m very happy for our supporters because they deserve to have a day like this afternoon,” Mancini said.
Goalscorer Toure was ecstatic.
“I was so happy to score the goal for the fans — they have waited 35 years to win anything and it’s beautiful for Manchester City,” he said.
City were worthy winners after raising their game in the second half to dominate their opponents.
United might have taken the lead after an extraordinary passage of play on the quarter-hour mark that saw Berbatov miss two glorious chances in the space of a minute.
A wonderful passage of one-touch passing between Michael Carrick, Scholes and Park Ji-sung put Berbatov clear on goal only for Hart to pull off a stunning close-range save.
Seconds later Nani turned Zabaleta brilliantly before racing to the byline and squaring for Berbatov, who scooped his shot over the bar from point-blank range.
Those were United’s best moments of the half and gradually City came into the match, with Gareth Barry, Mario Balotelli and Vincent Kompany all having shots on goal.
City started the second half as they finished the first, threatening to over-run United at times.
It was not long before City took the lead after Carrick casually gifted the ball to Toure with a slack pass on the edge of the area and the former Barcelona player surged into the box and scored.
On 72 minutes Scholes was given a straight red for sinking his studs into Zabaleta’s thigh.
United rallied desperately but City were not to be denied.
City celebrated at the final whistle but Balotelli and United defender Rio Ferdinand needed to be separated by players and coaching staff in an ugly melee.
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