23/11/05 9:00 PM  http://tinyurl.com/8fant

Rossi Treble Secures Comeback Derby Win

FA Premier Reserve League North
Manchester City 2
Manchester United 4

Sportcity, Manchester


Goal machine Giuseppe Rossi hit a hat-trick as United came from two goals
down to beat Manchester City and establish an eight-point lead at the top
of the FAPRL.

There were also useful run-outs for Gary Neville and Louis Saha in their
ongoing return to fitness, with Neville notching 71 minutes before being
substituted while Saha lasted the full 90.

Ever eager to secure the bragging rights over their local rivals, both
sides were sharp in the challenge early on, but it was City who went ahead.

Experienced French midfielder Antoine Sibierski curled a 20-yard right-footed
effort past Tim Howard, whose view was obscured by Adam Eckersley and Phil
Bardsley.

Things went from bad to worse for United as Bradley Wright-Phillips doubled
the hosts' advantage, tapping in from close range after excellent work down
the left from Miller.

Despite being two goals behind so early in proceedings, United never lost
heart and gave themselves a chance just before half time when Lee Martin
was felled inside the area for a clear penalty.

Rossi stepped up and calmly fired the ball into the bottom right hand corner,
sending goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, son of Reds legend Peter, the wrong way.

Within a minute of the second half commencing United were level, and it was
again down to Rossi.

Captain David Fox spread the play to Markus Neumayr who, rather than advance
into the space ahead of him, drove in an inch-perfect first time cross which
Rossi converted from six yards.

Having drawn level United briefly took their foot off the pedal and were
indebted to Tim Howard for keeping them on level terms, as the American
flung himself to his right to save well from Wright-Phillips.

On 71 minutes Rossi completed his hat-trick after good work from Saha.

The French forward turned cleverly 50 yards from goal before sliding the
ball through for the Italian forward, who took a touch before firing across
Schmeichel and into the far corner.

The goal prompted a double substitution from Rene Meulensteen, who introduced
Danny Simpson and Kenny Cooper for Neville and Kieran Richardson.

Within four minutes Cooper had made the game safe. Rossi flicked on Neumyar's
corner and Cooper's low drive was deflected over the grounded Schmeichel by
City defender Logan.

Further opportunities were spurned by Saha and Simpson, but United comfortably
ran down the clock for a seventh straight league win.


United:
Howard, Neville (Simpson, 71), Eckersley, Pique, Bardsley, Fox (R Jones, 46),
Neumayr, Richardson (Cooper, 71), Saha, Rossi, Martin.



Report by Steve Bartram.