Owen strikes late to sink City

United went ahead through efforts from Wayne Rooney and Darren Fletcher but City levelled twice through Gareth Barry and Craig Bellamy before Fletcher headed United ahead again.

City thought they had grabbed a point when Craig Bellamy steered home their third leveller in the final minute. But up popped Owen, just as he said he would, with virtually the final kick to leave the Blues on their knees.

United had taken the lead after just two minutes. Ryan Giggs' quick throw-in found Patrice Evra and the French defender cut the ball back to Rooney who escaped the attention of two defenders before finishing coolly.

City levelled following a horrendous error from Ben Foster, who misjudged a hopeful ball forward from Joleon Lescott before being tackled by Carlos Tevez.

The Argentinian then picked out Barry, who slotted the ball past Nemanja Vidic on the line to register his first goal for the club.

United started the second half on the front foot and were rewarded four minutes after the break when Fletcher headed home a Ryan Giggs cross. However, Bellamy equalised three minutes later when he cut inside John O'Shea and fired home a sensational 20-yarder that left Foster with no chance.

Fletcher then headed United ahead once again from a Giggs free-kick, only for Bellamy to level again in the final minute of normal time following another catastrophic defensive slip-up from United.

This time it was Rio Ferdinand who was the guilty party, the England defender lazily scooping a pass straight to Barry, who released Bellamy to race 50 yards before expertly beating Foster at his near post.

The goal looked to have earned City a point, but with visiting manager Mark Hughes screaming for the final whistle, Owen latched onto a through-ball from the irrepressible Giggs before stabbing home the winner.