Article | December 9, 2012 – 7:19pm | By Ikenna Agu
The home fans were momentarily stunned, and there was a further blow when skipper and defensive leader Vincent Kompany hobbled off after 20 minutes with what appeared to be a groin injury.
Curiously, Kompany was replaced not by Joleon Lescott but Kolo Toure, who was not deemed good enough to be selected for City’s Champions League squad.
The centre-back looked a nervous wreck every time the play was in his general direction and United soon took full advantage of City’s reshuffle.
After 28 minutes, Tom Cleverley won an important tackle in midfield, David Silva failed to track Rooney’s central run and the striker greedily gobbled up Rafael’s cross from the right flank to unerringly side-foot his 150th league goal.
By the time the opening period ended, the home support had been quietened, City were running out of ideas and United looked in control.
Mancini waited until six minutes into the second half to replace the disappointing Balotelli with Tevez, by which time the visitors had also been forced into a change with Chris Smalling taking the place of the injured Jonny Evans.
City got a foothold in the match at the hour mark, 60 seconds after Young had a goal ruled out for off-side even though replays suggested he was level when he pounced on the re-bound from a Van Persie shot that cannoned off the post.
A single City attack produced three saves from De Gea before Tevez teed up Yaya Toure to light the sky blue flare and put the home side back in the match.
With the two sides trading some breath-taking attacks, Silva was inches from equalising after 78 minutes when his shot skimmed De Gea?s shoulder before whacking the crossbar.
By now, City were pouring forward relentlessly. In a late piece of drama that is increasingly typical of Mancini’s team, Zabaleta appeared to have secured the draw with his first goal of the season.
But Van Persie had the final say on a remarkable afternoon, as his free kick swung in off the post, via a deflection off Samir Nasri’s foot, giving Hart no chance.
