The Tribune

By MARK WALSH Associated Press MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- With one thumping header, Vincent Kompany may well have tilted the balance of football power in Manchester from red to blue. Kompany's goal in first-half stoppage time was enough to give Manchester City a 1-0 win over Manchester United on Monday and put his team in position to secure a first Premier League title in 44 years. In what had been billed as the biggest Manchester derby ever, the City captain provided one of the game's few memorable moments -- aside from a touchline dustup between Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini -- when he rose above Manchester United defender Chris Smalling to meet David Silva's in-swinging corner and send his header past goalkeeper David de Gea. It was the simplest of winning goals and came after a brief lapse of concentration from the United defense, but it could have long-lasting repercussions in Manchester -- and English football in general. A Premier League title that looked to be firmly in United's grasp just two weeks ago is now again City's to lose. City leads its crosstown rival on goal difference with just two rounds remaining, having trailed by eight points earlier this month. After spending decades in the shadows of its more successful neighbour, City's newfound wealth under Abu Dhabi ownership may finally be on the verge of producing the result that fans have been longing for. "Absolutely buzzing. ... We've been waiting for this moment," Kompany said. "It's far from over, and we know that, but just to give our fans two wins over Manchester United this season -- we have to finish it off."City and United have been going toe-to-toe atop the league table all season, a struggle that culminated in Ferguson and Mancini going face to face during Monday's game. City has now won all but one home match this season, drawing the other, and has an advantage of eight over United in the goal difference column. "I think that we deserved to win this game, we scored, we played well and we had other chances to score in the second half," Mancini said. The win also means City has completed a famous double over United, this crucial home victory backing up a stunning 6-1 win at Old Trafford last October. "We had control of some parts of the game but not enough to cause any damage," Ferguson said. City still has a tough job to seal a first title since 1968. The team next visits fifth-place Newcastle United and then hosts relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers in the remaining fixtures, while United finishes against Swansea at home and Sunderland away.