The bandwagon was looking pretty crowded as I walked into Fado Irish Pub in downtown Austin early Sunday morning.  The place was packed with the red and black of Manchester United fans supporting the highest earning sports franchise in the world.  It seems like everyone these days in America who supports a European soccer team has a Wayne Rooney or Christiano Ronaldo jersey in United red.  They gathered for the 149th Manchester Derby, a meeting between United and their long time rivals Manchester City.  There were only three blue shirts in the whole pub, but there might as well have been fifty, with City taking an unlikely lead after Darius Vassel scored in the 24th minute of play and a thunderous roar rising from the always outnumbered Blue half of Manchester.  To City's eternal delight and United's shame, the Blues extended their lead in the 45th minute from a header by new arrival Benjani Mwaruwari.  The rest of the game was a deadlock, with Michael Carrick grabbing a consolation goal in the 90th minute.  This was United's first loss to City at their home ground of Old Trafford since the 1973 season, and the first time since the 1969/70 season that Manchester City have beaten United in both the home and away fixtures (that time, United were relegated to the second division as a result).  It was a glorious day for City fans worldwide as they secured gloating rights for the rest of the season and saw their team topple a giant.

 City 'till I die!

Chris