In the stands of Wembley Stadium, England national team head coach Capello and his assistant Galbiati were carefully studying the lineups and tactics of the two teams on the pitch.
Tonight, both teams featured England internationals.
For example, Manchester City had Leighton Baines starting and Sturridge on the bench.
Manchester United also fielded two popular internationals—Rooney and Carrick.
From the start of the match, the national team players from both sides had performed well.
Rooney and Carrick were both highly active, while Leighton Baines faced significant defensive pressure against Valencia.
"Manchester United's Ecuadorian winger is really fast and strong. Baines is physically at a disadvantage," Galbiati said, shaking his head helplessly.
England's left-back stands at only 1.7 meters tall, and he was tasked with marking Valencia, who is 1.8 meters tall, faster, and stronger. The pressure he faced was obvious. Even if it were Ashley Cole instead of Baines, he wouldn't have had the upper hand either.
"But he's held up well," Capello commented.
Galbiati nodded. "Yes, pretty solid."
Leighton Baines' strength lies more in attack than defense.
But tonight, facing Valencia's wing assault, he had failed to pose much offensive threat in the opening ten minutes.
"Gao Shen's use of the two wingers tonight is quite interesting. They've both dropped into midfield," Capello noted with a frown.
Gareth Bale and Robben both have pace as their biggest asset. They are extremely fast.
In the previous goal, Bale's relentless pressing on O'Shea was the key.
This also revealed how Gao Shen was deploying Gareth Bale in his lineup tonight.
He looked more like a left midfielder than a traditional winger, staying close to Leighton Baines and often tracking back to the full-back position to offer defensive cover.
"Gao Shen is clearly experimenting with Gareth Bale's optimal position. As a winger, he's too far forward. As a full-back, too deep. But if he plays as a wide midfielder, it could work. His defensive ability is quite strong after all, considering he was a full-back," Galbiati analyzed.
Capello nodded in agreement.
On the Manchester United side, with the addition of Lass Diarra and Sneijder, along with Park Ji-sung on the left and Valencia on the right, their midfield was significantly strengthened—particularly the two defensive midfielders.
"Ferguson's players still have it. Lass Diarra didn't hold onto the ball too much tonight," Capello said with a smile.
This French midfielder wore the No. 10 shirt at Real Madrid, and his tendency to dwell on the ball had always been an issue. But judging from his performance tonight, that problem seemed to have improved.
Of course, it might also be because he's new to the team and playing more conservatively.
But one thing was clear: Manchester United's midfield had indeed become more solid.
Especially with Fletcher still on the bench.
If necessary, Ferguson could sub out Park Ji-sung for Fletcher and let Sneijder push forward, forming a midfield trio of defensive midfielders. That would make United's midfield even more solid.
"The key for Manchester United tonight is their counterattack. They're playing very quickly and using a lot of long passes," Capello observed sharply.
From the start of the match, every time Manchester United intercepted the ball in midfield, they launched quick medium or long passes toward Rooney or Valencia.
This was clearly Ferguson's strategy.
Manchester City were pressing high and often recycling the ball around the halfway line, leaving large gaps behind their defensive line.
Rooney and Valencia were well-equipped to exploit those spaces.
While Capello and Galbiati continued their tactical analysis in the stands, something suddenly unfolded on the pitch.
Manchester United's midfield sprang into action. After regaining possession, Sneijder immediately sent a long ball over the top, targeting the right side of the attacking third.
In other words, attacking Manchester City's left flank.
Rooney moved quickly, making a diagonal run to the right and using his body to shield Kompany.
The Belgian center-back tried to muscle Rooney off but failed.
Rooney's nickname "Fatty Lu" wasn't for nothing.
He latched onto Sneijder's long ball on the right edge of the box. After a sudden stop, he tried to dribble past Kompany into the penalty area, but by then, Leighton Baines had already dropped back.
Just as the two defenders prepared to close him down, Rooney suddenly played a cutback into the box.
Valencia had already surged in from the right channel, latched onto Rooney's pass, and faced off with Jerome Boateng, who arrived just in time. Valencia feinted and sent the German defender sliding to the ground in a tackle.
But it was only a feint.
Valencia calmly dribbled past Boateng, and as Neuer came off his line, he coolly slotted the ball into the net with his right foot to equalize for Manchester United.
Valencia spread his arms wide and sprinted off to celebrate.
"What's going on with this center-back? Why did he suddenly go to ground for a slide tackle?" Capello asked in confusion.
It didn't make any sense.
"Probably his habits. I heard that he used to pick up cards for fouls in the Bundesliga and often played rashly. What he did just now was really…" Galbiati sighed and shook his head.
It was hard to even describe!
If this had happened in Italy, a defender would probably be benched for a tackle like that.
"I really don't understand why Gao Shen would use him as a center-back," Capello said, puzzled.
Putting such a reckless player in the key position of central defense was a huge risk.
Just like the goal United had just scored—it should never have happened.
If it were a mature and composed center-back, he would've just used his body to block Valencia.
"Gao Shen will regret this!"
…
In fact, Gao Shen didn't regret it.
He had anticipated that Jerome Boateng might make a mistake.
It wasn't because he didn't take this cup match seriously, but rather because he placed greater importance on getting his players accustomed to the Premier League's tempo, especially in high-intensity matchups like this.
Besides, it was still only the first half.
So after conceding the goal, Gao Shen walked to the touchline, clapped his hands loudly, and encouraged the players to keep going.
"It's alright. Stay patient, stay focused, and keep pushing!" Gao Shen shouted.
Captain Kompany and the others also rallied the team's morale.
…
With both teams having scored, the game began to open up.
Especially for Manchester City.
As the match progressed, the young new players gradually settled in. After scoring and conceding, they shook off their nerves and began to fully engage in the game.
Although they conceded in the 23rd minute, just four minutes later, Manchester City created a threat with a corner.
Yaya Toure's header went just over the bar.
But Manchester United weren't backing down either. They quickly counterattacked and earned a corner of their own, also taking a shot.
As both sides relaxed, the attacks started to come more freely.
The game became much more exciting.
Manchester City held more possession, while Manchester United pressed them through intense running and launched rapid counterattacks after winning the ball.
In the 39th minute, after United lost the ball in midfield, Lass Diarra tried to drive forward, but Rakitic won it back and played a diagonal pass behind Evans.
Van Persie had already made a sharp run from deep. Despite Evans trailing closely and trying to pull him back, he couldn't stop the Dutchman, who charged down the left side of the box, met Rakitic's pass, and fired a left-footed volley into the top right corner of the United goal.
"Goalllllllllllllll!!!!!!"
"Van Persie!!!"
"Manchester City take the lead again! This time it's Robin van Persie with the goal!"
"Robben assisted his earlier goal, and now he's netted one of his own."
"Looking at the replay, Evans clearly tugged his shirt, but the ref let it go. Van Persie looks fired up tonight."
"2–1!"
…
Just three minutes later, Manchester City launched another attack.
After Robben received the ball on the right, he faced young Brazilian full-back Fabio, made a sharp stop and cut inside, shook off Fabio, and dribbled across the top of the box. Before Lass Diarra could arrive to help, he whipped in a curling cross with his left foot.
The ball dropped toward the far post.
Gareth Bale streaked into the United box like a bolt of lightning, bullied his way past O'Shea, and leapt high in front of the left post to head the ball.
Van der Sar was already moving left, but Bale deliberately sent his header to the right side of the goal.
3–1!
"Goallllllllllllllll!!!!!!"
"Two goals in three minutes!"
"Gareth Bale's run was explosive. United's defense simply couldn't react in time."
"Of course, he should thank Robben. That brilliant cut-in and curling cross with his left foot created the perfect scoring chance."
"3–1. Manchester United are in real trouble now!"
…
No one expected both teams to play with such abandon toward the end of the first half.
In stoppage time, Manchester United won the ball in their own half. Carrick picked it up and launched a long diagonal pass, sending it behind Manchester City's left-back area.
Valencia and Leighton Baines were in a foot race down the wing. The Ecuadorian winger used his strength to shove Baines aside, got to the ball first, and drove down the right side of the box. After drawing Kompany, he sent a low cross into the center of the six-yard box.
Rooney darted into the middle, got in front of Jerome Boateng, and slid in to poke the ball into Manchester City's goal.
2–3!
Wembley Stadium erupted in chaos!
The crowd was in a frenzy.
No one had expected such an intense first half.
Especially toward the end, both teams played with total freedom, going all out with nothing held back.
Five goals in one half!
It made for a wildly entertaining first 45 minutes.
Despite both teams missing key players for various reasons, everyone on the pitch gave it their all.
Particularly on the attacking end, both sides were outstanding, unwilling to fall behind.
The 85,000 fans in attendance were spellbound.
Everyone was now eagerly looking forward to the second half, hoping for another explosive offensive battle.
(To be continued.)