[ Featuring Nino Morro ]
COMMENTATOR 1:
Welcome to the Viper Stadium. It s a lovely sunny day here. This should be a cracking game between City and United, with both teams in great form in the league. Let s look at the two line-ups: for City, we have Henderson in goal, Walker right back, the pairing of Mendez, Smith as centre backs, Garcia the young lad the only change from the last game at left back. We have Rossi, Maddison, Silva and Novak in midfield, with Muller and Peters up front. That s the City line-up. Let s look at United now. We have Grant in goal, with Robertson at right back, Jones and Johannsen the centre backs, Shaw at left back. Then we have Mayer, Garner, De Jong, Mertens in midfield, Fernandes and the very reliable Kane up front.
It s a great atmosphere here, both sets of fans are looking forward to this one.
The referee gets the game underway, and straight away from kick off United are pressing City. Mertens with impressive pace bursts past the youngster Garcia, but Garcia gets in an impressive tackle for City, and puts the ball out for a corner. This is only Garcia s first start for City, but he already looks at home here.
It s a corner on the right for United, with Mertens getting ready to take it. Jones and Johannsen are up from the defence, but neither of those have found the net this season so far.
Mertens takes it, Johannsen raises above Mendez in the box towards the corner, and it s a goal! What a start for United. One nil to the away side; City look shellshocked.
COMMENTATOR 2:
It was a great ball in from Mertens, whipped into the danger zone, and Johannsen made a wonderful connection to send the ball into the back of the net. We ve seen City play with zonal marking before, and yet again it s cost them an early goal.
COMMENTATOR 1:
United don t have to rush at the moment, just passing the ball round nicely. City are trying to probe and get an opening, but it s not happening so far.
COMMENTATOR 2:
You can see the game plan: fast start and now United looking to keep the ball for long spells of the game. City are having some real problems down on this near side. Walker is looking a little uncomfortable on the ball. However, City are trying to press, so United have to maintain this spell of possession.
COMMENTATOR 1:
The City keeper Henderson just rolls the ball out to Walker, who passes to Silva. Silva looks for options on what oh! what a pass to Muller, who is one-on-one with Grant. Oh, he s been brought down! What s the referee ? The referee is waving it on. The City players look absolutely bewildered. That looked a clear-cut penalty to me. Oh, wait, this looks like it s going to go to VAR. We wait for the decision. What s it going to be? I think that was a penalty, but we ll just wait and see.
COMMENTATOR 2:
It was a beautifully crafted through-ball. Muller with a lovely bit of skill. Just looking at the reply, and it does look as if Grant gets the slightest of touches on the player. I m pretty sure VAR will give this as a penalty.
COMMENTATOR 1:
It s a yellow card for Grant and a penalty to City; the City fans go wild. VAR, I must say, was spot on this time. They ve made some bad decisions, but that was a clear-cut penalty. Muller is City s regular penalty taker with an impressive record from the spot. Steps up. Goal! Easily beats Grant; City are back level. Muller runs to the crowd; the home fans are chanting VAR . And there s the halftime whistle: City one, United one, with a VAR penalty decision, which in my eyes was correct.
