Benjani scores on his Manchester debut
ZIMBABWEAN captain Benjani Mwaruwari has proved that he is made up of sterner stuff when he scored a historic goal on his Manchester City debut.
His goal helped his new team, Manchester City to complete a first double over neighbours Manchester United for 38 years. Benjani’s debut goal gave Manchester City a 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Benjani celebrates his 45th minute header which gave Manchester City a 2-0 lead.
The Zimbabwean striker's glancing header also gave City their first win at the United ground since 1974, on a day when the fans observed an impeccable minute's silence in memory of the 23 victims of the air crash at Munich 50 years ago.
If defeat against City was unusual for United and their supporters, it was quite normal for visiting manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who has now achieved three wins in three meetings with Sir Alex Ferguson's team.
He guided Lazio to a European Super Cup triumph over United in 1999.
The result halted United's 13-match winning run, their best sequence in 103 years, and was a great morale booster for table topping Arsenal, who entertain Blackburn on Monday, and third-placed Chelsea, who were at home to Liverpool later on Sunday.
After the emotional pre-match ceremonies, during which both managers laid wreaths in the centre circle, the match was to prove a bitter disappointment for United, who had Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra suspended and Owen Hargreaves dropped to the bench.
John O'Shea, Nani and Anderson all started. City's Vedran Corluka was banned and Daniel Sturridge left out.
New man Benjani was given his debut and Nedum Onuoha came into defense.
United made an aggressive start with a Ryan Giggs shot tipped over by Joe Hart and a Carlos Tevez effort blocked by Richard Dunne.
City went in front after 25 minutes after United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar dashed out to block a shot from Stephen Ireland. The keeper was able to parry Darius Vassell's strike from the rebound but was beaten when the same player snapped up the second chance.
City were well organized as United pressed for an equalizer and just before the half-time whistle Martin Petrov, a constant menace on the wing, crossed from the right for Benjani to nod in a debut goal.
City stood firm until the final minute when Michael Carrick found the target, too late to rescue his side.