Soccer-Late Owen winner costs bookmakers a million

LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The controversial amount of time added on at the end of Manchester United's derby clash with City on Sunday cost bookmakers William Hill over 1 million pounds ($1.64 million).

United won the Premier League game 4-3 thanks to a goal by Michael Owen in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe said in a statement: "Had the referee blown 30 seconds or so earlier, at which point everyone other than United fans were convinced the game was over, we'd have been a substantial seven figure sum better off.

"We can only suppose that time passes more slowly at Old Trafford than anywhere else in the universe.

"All those punters who backed the Big Four all to win at the weekend at odds of just under 3-1 will also be quite happy with the ref's timekeeping."

Chelsea, 3-0 winners over Tottenham Hotspur, have been trimmed from 6-5 to 11-10 favourites to win the title with Manchester United at 9-4, followed by Liverpool (13-2), Arsenal (8-1) and Manchester City (10-1).

(Writing by Dave Thompson, Editing by Ed Osmond. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)