FA Cup: Man City 2-3 Man Utd

City players react with disbelief after refree rejects a clear-cut late penalty

Etihad Stadium: Manchester United beat Manchester City 3-2 in a thrilling match to qualify to the fourth round of the FA Cup. At the break United was in a 3-0 lead and City fought back brilliantly but United was good enough to hold the the FA cup champions.

Wayne Rooney got on the score sheat 10 minutes after the start. Ryan Giggs’s pass had set Rooney free 40 yards from goal and the forward laid the ball off to Antonio Valencia before sprinting into the penalty area to head the return ball into the goal.

And after Lindegaard saved well from Sergio Aguero on 14 minutes, United began to dominate. The things worsened when City's captain Vincent Kompany was sent off and just seconds later United scored their second through Danny Welbeck on the half hour. Evra's low cross from close to the byline was cleared up into the air but Welbeck swinged his boot at it, firing it into the far corner.

Rooney scored the third one after Kolarov was booked for unfair tackle on Welbeck that awarded United a precious penalty. The penalty was well saved by the keeper Costel Pantilimon, saving low on the left but Rooney headed it home after it rebounded the unlucky keeper.

10 men City held an amazing fightback and Kolarov’s 48th-minute strike from a free-kick made it 3-1 and gave City hope of a remarkable comeback.

Sergio Aguero's 64th minute strike made the match much interesting. City benifited from Scholes poor return to a throw as Samir Nasri nipped in to take it past him and crossed from the left into the box where Aguero shoots and Lindegaard saved it but back to the striker and the Argentine reached the ball to slots it past him.

Manchester City could have equalised when Jones handled Kolarov’s cross in the penalty area but the refree Foy missed it.