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20 August 2007, by Sean Gillen

Nani looks sharp but United fall to defeat

Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United

Manchester United are still looking for their first victory of the season after the champions somehow lost the Manchester derby at Eastlands on Sunday afternoon.

A goal from former Benfica forward Geovanni handed City a scarcely deserved victory in a match dominated by United, who badly missed the quality of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portuguese sitting out the first of a three-match suspension.

United controlled the game from the first whistle, and Nani was provided with the earliest chance after less than five minutes. Good link-up play between Tevez and Scholes put the Portuguese through on the inside left of the penalty area, but Nani could only fire straight at Schmeichel with his right foot.

Nani was enjoying particularly a bright opening to the game, and the former Sporting man then drew another low save from Schmeichel after more good build-up play from United. The visitors continued to put pressure on their opponents, and Nani’s brilliant backheel sent Evra clean through on goal, but the Frenchman sliced his finish badly wide.

Despite United’s surprisingly comfortable control over the first half hour, it was City who took the lead with a goal out of nothing. There was a hint of fortune about the strike, with Geovanni’s 25-metre shot taking a deflection off Nemanja Vidic before nestling in the bottom corner.

Nani goes close

United appeared stunned by the goal, and struggled to re-establish their rhythm before the break, although Nani again went close with a well-struck shot from outside the area that whistled past the post.

However, the champions began the second half strongly, immediately dictating possession and pinning City back from the outset. Just two minutes after the re-start, Vidic headed against the bar from a Giggs corner and Scholes failed to capitalise on the rebound, lashing wide with his left foot.

Having impressed during the hour he was on the pitch, Alex Ferguson’s decision to replace Nani with Chris Eagles appeared a curious one, but the chances continued to appear for United, with Tevez failing to make good contact on a Giggs ball across the goalmouth.

United had City under pressure for the remainder of the match, but Tevez’s lack of sharpness in the penalty box proved costly. The Argentine fired wide from ten metres, before failing to convert an excellent headed chance at the back post in the dying minutes, with his manager briefly celebrating before he realised that Tevez’s effort had drifted wide.

The result leaves United with just two points and one goal from their first three games and, despite Rooney and Ronaldo not being available in the immediate future and the likes of Saha and Anderson out injured, the champions must start winning matches as soon as possible.

Man City:
Schmeichel, Garrido, Richards, Dunne, Corluka, Geovanni (Ball 74), Hamann, Johnson, Petrov, Bojinov (Mpenza 8), Elano (Bianchi 63)
Yellow Cards: Hamann, Corluka

Man Utd:
van der Sar, Brown (O'Shea 73), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Hargreaves, Scholes, Carrick (Campbell 73), Giggs, Nani (Eagles 60), Tevez
Yellow Cards: Brown, Ferdinand

Goals:
[1-0] Geovanni, 31