Manchester City thought they had rescued a point at Old Trafford when Craig Bellamy equalised in the 90th minute.
Six minutes later, Michael Owen was racing towards the corner flag having won one of the Premier League’s greatest Manchester derbies.
Manchester United beat City 4-3 at Old Trafford on 20 September 2009, with Owen scoring the decisive goal deep into stoppage time.
United had taken the lead after just two minutes through Wayne Rooney before Gareth Barry equalised for City.
Darren Fletcher restored United’s advantage after half-time, only for Bellamy to make it 2-2 with a long-range strike.
Fletcher headed United back in front in the 80th minute, but City responded for a third time when Bellamy scored again in the 90th minute.
The game still was not finished.
With the match deep into stoppage time, Ryan Giggs collected possession and played Owen through the City defence.
Owen controlled the pass before finishing beyond Shay Given in the 96th minute, giving United a 4-3 victory and producing one of Old Trafford’s most memorable derby celebrations.
The amount of stoppage time played became part of the story surrounding the match, but the game itself subsequently earned recognition far beyond the rivalry.
When supporters voted on the greatest games from the Premier League’s first 20 seasons, United’s 4-3 victory over City was named the best match.
Owen, who had joined United earlier that summer, later described the derby winner as one of the highlights of his career.
Seventeen years later, the sequence remains remarkable: City equalised for the third time in the 90th minute — and still left Old Trafford beaten.
