Manchester City beats 10-man Man U. 3-1
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-15 09:45

LONDON - Manchester City beat crosstown rival Manchester United 3-1 Saturday in the English Premier League — the 145th time the two teams have played.

City led 2-0 at halftime with goals from Trevor Sinclair and Darius Vassell.

Stephen Ireland tapped the ball forward for Sinclair, who shot it into the corner of the net in the 32nd minute. City goalkeeper David James then denied United striker Wayne Rooney before Vassell made it 2-0 in the 39th minute by eluding Mikael Silvestre in the box and scoring into an empty net.

United scored in the 76th minute when Ruud van Nistelrooy chested forward a cross from Ryan Giggs and then swiveled to beat James.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, left, is sent off by referee Steve Bennett during the English Premier League soccer match against Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday Jan. 14, 2006. [AP]

City substitute Robbie Fowler made it 3-1 in second-half injury time with a powerful diagonal kick.

"We looked like the team that was up for a derby match, up for a scrap and we took our chances when they came," City manager Stuart Pearce said.

Man United, which stays in second place behind leader Chelsea, finished with 10 men after Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off with a red card.

Liverpool moved within one point of Man United by beating Tottenham 1-0 — its eight straight win at home. Harry Kewell scored his first goal since December 2004 for Liverpool, which now has 44 points.

Tottenham is fourth with 40 points.

Thierry Henry scored a hat trick for fifth-place Arsenal in a 7-0 win over Middlesbrough.

The Frenchman scored in the 20th, 30th and 68th minutes, and his third goal equaled Cliff Bastin's Arsenal record of 150 goals scored in league matches.

Philippe Senderos, Robert Pires and Gilberto Silva and Alexander Hleb also scored for Arsenal.