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Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
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Bookies rue Owen's late derby winner
Source: Agencies |
September 22, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE controversial amount of time added on at the end of Manchester United's Premier League derby clash with City on Sunday cost bookmakers William Hill over 1 million pounds (US$1.64 million).
United won the game 4-3 thanks to a goal by Michael Owen in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe said in a statement: "Had the referee blown 30 seconds or so earlier, at which point everyone other than United fans were convinced the game was over, we'd have been a substantial seven figure sum better off.
"We can only suppose that time passes more slowly at Old Trafford than anywhere else in the universe. All those punters who backed the Big Four all to win at the weekend at odds of just under 3-1 will also be quite happy with the ref's timekeeping."
Fought back
United led three times through Wayne Rooney and two Darren Fletcher headers and City fought back on each occasion with a goal from Gareth Barry and two from Craig Bellamy, the second coming in the final minute of normal time.
The day's big London derby was not quite so dramatic as Chelsea made it six league wins out of six with a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur which has lost two in a row after winning its first four.
Louis Saha scored twice as Everton beat Blackburn 3-0 and Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Fulham 2-1.
The results left Chelsea clear at the top with a maximum 18 points. United has 15 with City, which had won its first four league games, on 12 alongside Liverpool, Spurs and Aston Villa.
Tottenham, without a win at Stamford Bridge for almost 20 years, started well but fell behind after 32 minutes to a rare goal by fullback Ashley Cole.
Spurs had a strong penalty claim turned down and Michael Ballack bundled in the second before Didier Drogba killed the game with the third goal after 63 minutes.
The top Premier League clubs join the chase for the League Cup title starting today but the likes of Rooney, Ballack, Cesc Fabregas and Steven Gerrard are likely to be given a break.
United won the game 4-3 thanks to a goal by Michael Owen in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe said in a statement: "Had the referee blown 30 seconds or so earlier, at which point everyone other than United fans were convinced the game was over, we'd have been a substantial seven figure sum better off.
"We can only suppose that time passes more slowly at Old Trafford than anywhere else in the universe. All those punters who backed the Big Four all to win at the weekend at odds of just under 3-1 will also be quite happy with the ref's timekeeping."
Fought back
United led three times through Wayne Rooney and two Darren Fletcher headers and City fought back on each occasion with a goal from Gareth Barry and two from Craig Bellamy, the second coming in the final minute of normal time.
The day's big London derby was not quite so dramatic as Chelsea made it six league wins out of six with a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur which has lost two in a row after winning its first four.
Louis Saha scored twice as Everton beat Blackburn 3-0 and Wolverhampton Wanderers defeated Fulham 2-1.
The results left Chelsea clear at the top with a maximum 18 points. United has 15 with City, which had won its first four league games, on 12 alongside Liverpool, Spurs and Aston Villa.
Tottenham, without a win at Stamford Bridge for almost 20 years, started well but fell behind after 32 minutes to a rare goal by fullback Ashley Cole.
Spurs had a strong penalty claim turned down and Michael Ballack bundled in the second before Didier Drogba killed the game with the third goal after 63 minutes.
The top Premier League clubs join the chase for the League Cup title starting today but the likes of Rooney, Ballack, Cesc Fabregas and Steven Gerrard are likely to be given a break.
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