The Day Owen Became a Red Folk Hero…
Once upon a footy fairytale in 2009, Michael Owen transformed into a ball-charming wizard, casting a spell to make time stand still as he ghosted past Man City goalie Shay Given. On a day known to break hearts or make legends, the Stretford End exploded like a popcorn machine in hyperdrive. As his teammates formed a jubilant rugby scrum in the corner, Owen sparkled brighter than a disco ball in a power surge. Meanwhile, the blue corner was bluer than a Smurf convention, mourning their last-gasp hopes dashed by a Giggs-inspired trick shot!
Amidst this legendary pandemonium, Sir Alex Ferguson was practically moonwalking in the technical area like a Scottish Michael Jackson, while Mark Hughes, the Man City boss from before the era of infinite transfer kitty, was one watch wave away from steaming out of his ears like a cartoon kettle. Furious with the referee’s sense of time, Hughes’ drama show turned clocks into villains, and with his team stealing the show in comeback races thrice, he wasn’t settling for Neville’s knee-slapping antics!
Ah, Gary Neville, the happiest eyebrows in football, committed the ultimate touchline photo-bomb! Like a roadrunner with turbo boosters, he joyfully rushed past Hughes as if the away fans weren’t already bruised enough. The cheekiest whistleblower on the pitch ended up with a routine slap on the wrist from the FA for over-enthusiastic revelry, proven to be just part and parcel of a derby rumba in the mystical Theatre of Dreams. The sweet memory ranks as priceless for Red Devils — and possibly a touch sourer than a lemon smoothie for Hughes as it plays on repeat in his mind’s TV eternally!
