Wembley Stadium's two giant scoreboards showed 52 minutes when Manchester United's Michael Carrick lost the ball to Manchester City's Yaya Toure after a poor clearance from Edwin van der Sar.
The slender midfielder did not have the strength to win it back from the FA Cup semi-final's most imposing player. The Ivorian held off Carrick and Nemanja Vidic before threading the ball through the legs of the oncoming Van der Sar.
Toure's goal was cathartic, as important as any moment in the recent history of City. The Blues have spent more money than any other club in world football in the past three seasons in a sustained attempt to establish them one of the giants of football.
Big names players with lofty reputations like Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure, Mario Balotelli and David Silva have arrived in east Manchester at great expense. Cerebral Italian manager Roberto Mancini came in with a mission to make the team regulars among the European elite.
City improved, but not at the pace most expected. They reached the semi-final of the Carling Cup last season - but were beaten over two legs by their loathed enemy from four miles west.
City's league position improved, but they failed to qualify for the Champions League. Thanks to two dramatic derby defeats by United. City fans, one of whom wrote a book entitled Manchester United Ruined My Life were right to curse their red neighbours.
Despite outspending United, City's inferiority complex never lifted. So defence-minded at home in November's Manchester derby that Sir Alex Ferguson goaded them, "If they want to win trophies then you have to attack."
City played well in February's Old Trafford derby, but were defeated again after Wayne Rooney's overhead goal. No matter what the Blues did, they couldn't overcome United.
Privately, City's loyal fans dreaded another defeat on Wembley's grand stage. One gentle soul even reasoned, "Come on, it's our turn now" to Reds on Wembley Way, the main approach to England's stunning 90,000-seater national stadium. Others were less charitable in a mood which was both upbeat and tense on the 200-mile coach trip from Manchester.
The motorways were packed with equal numbers of supporters' coaches carrying fans south to London and moments of humour were frequent. One group of Reds held out directions to any rival fans. United have been frequent visitors to England's rebuilt national stadium, while it was a first visit for City in 12 years.
Tensions mounted as fans goaded each other under the watchful eye of police, United fans chanting: "35 Years" to remind their neighbours that they haven't won a trophy since 1976.
"35 years and we're still here," replied the Blues to emphasise their loyalty to their cause.
City fans replied: "You only live around the corner" - a dig at United's huge support outside Manchester.
That the majority of flags on show by the 32,000 United fans displayed areas of Manchester was of little consequence to the Blues waving inflatable bananas.
Could they beat United when it mattered? Just once. They could and the sustained celebrations after the final whistle showed how much it meant.
A flag in the United end read: "United & City. Joined by Geography. Separated by Success."
It was so true before this game, so very true. United's trophy haul still dwarfs City's, but the Blues are edging closer to that elusive first trophy in 35 years.
And to get their by beating United makes it all the more special for their fans.
sports@thenational.ae
FA Cup semi-final report card
Manchester City
• Keeper Joe Hart showed why he is England's undisputed No 1 by making fine saves to deny Dimitar Berbatov and Nani in either half. A
• Defence City never looked comfortable in the full-back positions, but Vincent Kompany was superb and his partner, Joleon Lescott, put in several excellent blocks. B+
• Midfield Lacklustre in the first half, City dominated in the second and Yaya Toure was the heartbeat. He capped his performance by driving into the box to score the winner. B+
• Strikers Like United, City missed their star striker, Carlos Tevez. Mario Balotelli's work rate was way below the standard set by his injured captain. C
• Manager Caught many by surprise by starting with Balotelli ahead of Edin Dzeko. He cleverly pushed David Silva more central. B
Overall Grade: B+
Manchester United
• Keeper Edwin van der Sar's kicking let him down and contributed to the goal. Otherwise he had just one save to make until the final moments. B-
• Defence In almost total control in the first half, but suddenly looked shaky after the break. John O'Shea, in particular, will be disappointed with his second-half display. B-
• Midfield Same story; poor second half. Michael Carrick gave away the goal with a moment of madness, and Paul Scholes saw red to make the comeback even harder. C
• Strikers Dimitar Berbatov missed two chances, within a minute, that would have changed the game. Wayne Rooney would probably have netted one of them. C
• Manager Picked a formation to match City when perhaps he should have been more adventurous. B-
Overall Grade: B-
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The Orwell Prize for Political Writing
Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include:
- Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
- Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims by Hussein Kesvani
- Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Fixtures
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The specs: Hyundai Ionic Hybrid
Price, base: Dh117,000 (estimate)
Engine: 1.6L four-cylinder, with 1.56kWh battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 105hp (engine), plus 43.5hp (battery)
Torque: 147Nm (engine), plus 170Nm (battery)
Fuel economy, combined: 3.4L / 100km
The%20specs
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
