MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 17:24:41| >> :60:1075:1075:

On this day: Manchester United beat Manchester City in thrilling FA Cup tie

Sports Mole takes a trip back through time to relive Manchester United's 4-2 FA Cup win against Manchester City in 2004.

There once was a time when a Manchester City win over Manchester United was regarded as an upset. This season excluded, the last few in the Premier League have seen the two rivals challenging at the top end of the table, rather than City doing their best to avoid relegation, which was the case around 10 years ago.

Always in the FA Cup there is an extra edge to games, especially when rivals clash. The fixture between United and City on this day 10 years ago was no different. It had everything, including a first-half red card and a brilliant goalkeeping performance. Here, Sports Mole takes a look back at the FA Cup clash on February 14, 2004.

Gary Neville of Man Utd argues with Steve McManaman of Man City before he is sent off during the FA Cup Fifth Round match on February 14, 2014© Getty Images

In the previous round the Citizens pulled off an unbelievable comeback against Tottenham Hotspur in their replay at White Hart Lane. They were 3-0 down at half time, with Joey Barton sent off on the way back to the tunnel, but somehow managed four unanswered goals in the second half to make it through to the fifth round against their local rivals.

It would turn out that a similar story was required at Old Trafford, but this time City were a man up. Roy Keane was back in the lineup for United and he was dominant in the midfield battle and linked up well with Paul Scholes. It was the latter who opened the scoring in a first half of few chances, as Ryan Giggs played in a low cross right into the danger area for Scholes to tap in on his 400th United appearance.

Then came Gary Neville's moment of madness five minutes before the break. It is also the moment that the game really became a proper cup tie. Neville wanted a penalty, which would have been soft at best and shambolic at worst, and upon getting to his feet he got into a scrap with former Liverpool player Steve McManaman. The end result was the United right-back putting his head out into the face of McManaman and being given his marching orders.

Paul Scholes scores the first goal for his team past Manchester City's goalkeeper Ari Arason on February 14, 2004© Getty Images

A man up and only a goal down, the second half was surely a chance for City to get themselves back into the game and at least force a home replay. However, in Howard they found themselves up against a seemingly impenetrable wall. He first stopped a Shaun Wright-Phillips shot well, before keeping out Barton brilliantly from close range - his best of the lot. McManaman could and should have scored a simple chance before United decided that enough was enough.

City continued to commit men forward, which allowed space for Cristiano Ronaldo to weave his magic. He crossed for Ruud van Nistelrooy to tap in to make it 2-0, before adding a simple finish of his own on 72 minutes. The City goalkeeper Arni Arason could feel hard done by for the third goal after he had saved brilliantly from Giggs's initial effort. City once more needed to come back from three behind, but this time they had only 18 minutes.

Howard was finally beaten, but it took drastic measures from City. Sylvain Distin was pushed into attack by Kevin Keegan and he won the header for Michael Tarnat to thrash in from close range. It was 3-1 with 13 left to play, surely City could not pull off another turnaround? Indeed, this was one step too far as the next, crucial, goal went the way of United two minutes later.

Manchester United's Cristian Ronaldo (L) celebrates after scoring his team's third goal as teammate Ruud Van Nistelrooy (R) runs behind him on February 14, 2004© Getty Images

It was Van Nistelrooy who grabbed his second on the night and once again it was a typical poacher's goal from the Dutchman. Keane headed the ball goalwards and Van Nistelrooy turned it in from no more than two yards out to seal the result beyond any reasonable doubt.

The scoring was not quite done there, though. There were no substitutions made by Keegan and while Robbie Fowler was looking tired he was still quick in his mind as he scored from a free kick taken rapidly. With just four minutes left, however, it proved just a consolation as United advanced into the quarter-finals for the first time since the turn of the millennium.

ID:137949: cacheID:137949:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8375:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City players and fans celebrate John Macken's late winner against Tottenham Hotspur on February 04, 2004.
Read Next:
On this day: Spurs blow three-goal lead again
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!