Benjani header sinks Manchester United

By Lance Guma
11 February 2008

Zimbabwe and Manchester City striker Benjamin Mwaruwari marked his debut with a headed goal that proved to be the winner against Machester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. The goal helped City beat their local rivals in their own backyard for the first time since 1974. It’s also the first time City have done the double over Manchester United since 1970. Benjani, as he is affectionately known, moved from Portsmouth at the end of January this year, right on deadline day. The move attracted controversy as the two clubs haggled over his reported knee injury and £9,7 million price tag.

All that was swept to the side as Benjani met a teasing Martin Petrov cross with a glancing header that caressed the ball past United’s keeper Edwin van der sar. City fans started chanting, ‘He signed on deadline day; he scored on derby day,’ as the Zimbabwean bossed the United defence all afternoon. Darius Vassel got the opening goal in a move again started by Benjani before Michael Carrick scored a consolation goal for United to make the score line 2-1. City have been struggling for goals after a bright start to the season and in Benjani seem to have found the solution.

City manager Sven Goran Eriksson heaped praise on the new signing saying, ‘Benjani is the perfect player for 4-5-1 (formation). He will help us in our quest for Europe. Fingers crossed that he will play the rest of the games, as he did for Portsmouth. He played more or less all of their games. He is a great player, with a great attitude. We have technique, we have pace, and with Benjani we have it even more. Benjani has good technique, he is very, very quick, he can keep the ball up there, and he can score goals. He will be very important for us.’