MAN CITY 2, MAN UTD 3
Manchester City’s coronation as Premier League champions has been put on ice following their derby defeat at home to neighbours United.
In an extraordinary game, United produced a remarkable fightback to delay the celebrations as City could have won the title and made history by securing it with six games to go, something no other team had done.
There had been a party mood before kick off as fans created a giant mosaic and City were on course after establishing a 2-0 interval lead through goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan.
The only criticism was City could and should have been out of sight as they wasted other openings as United failed to show up in the opening period.
But it was an altogether different story in the second half when the party spirit disappeared as two goals from Paul Pogba and another strike from Chris Smalling brought about an amazing turnabout in United’s fortunes.
It left City manager Pep Guardiola with the challenge of lifting his side for their Champions League return against Liverpool after two demoralising defeats and a first home league loss in 28 league games.
Indeed it was the first time in Guardiola’s 514 matches as a manager that his teams have conceded three goals in successive games.
Guardiola’s only criticism of his team was he side didn’t take more of the many chances they created.
“We had lots of chances and we needed to be more clinical and score more goals.” he said.
Guardiola added the game proved the difficulty of the game, explaining: “If we are able to win the Premier League, we can say how tough it was.
“People have been saying since November and December that the Premier League is done. It is tough keeping going when every weekend they say win, win.
“This is the first time we have lost two games in a row in different competitions. Now we must recover, get back to basics and try and win on Tuesday (in the second leg of their Champions League semi final against Liverpool).”
Mourinho, who registered only his fifth win in 21 games against Guardiola, was delighted with the victory.
He said: “We still need points to finish in the top four and after this win we have a good chance to be second.
“It was important, good victory that was deserved at the most difficult place as City have won practically every game in the Premier League.
“This season we have more points than last year, scored more goals, conceded less and have better results against the top five.
“We have improved at all levels, but it was not enough and we have to improve even more because City will deserve to win the title.”
City’s starting line up showed Guardiola’s intentions for their Champions League return against Liverpool.
There were four changes to the side that lost 3-0 ar Anfield as Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte.
Into the team came Danilo, Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph and Bernardo Silva who, along with Sterling, rotated as a false nine.
United preferred Eric Bailly to Victor Lindelof in defence with Ander Herrera in for Juan Mata, the two changes from the home win against Swansea City.
There was one minute’s applause before kick off, a tribute to former United and England player Ray Wilkins who died this week aged 61.
City had an early appeal for a penalty rejected after the ball struck the arm of Ashley Young who slid in to make a clearance.
It was a largely uneventful opening, though City, as expected, enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but had little to show from it.
The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute when Kompany found the net with a bullet header from six yards following Sane’s corner.
It was his second goal of the season and first in the Premier League since May 2017, and what a time to score it. His other one was in the final of the Carabao Cup.
And City doubled their lead on the half hour through a wonderful virtuoso goal from Gundogan.
The midfielder produced a sublime touch to turn Nemanja Matic as he ran on to Sterling’s pass before firing low past David De Gea.
Sterling had three chances in quick succession to extend the lead, but twice blazed over the crossbar and then fired low at De Gea.
Gundogan then had a gilt-edged chance, but could only direct his header straight at De Gea from close range.
It took United until the 49th minute before they registered their first goal attempt, a low drive from Pogba that forced a decent diving save from Ederson Moraes.
City came within inches of making it 3-0 when Sterling set up Gundogan whose shot struck the crossbar.
United, completely outplayed, halved the deficit in the 53rd minute when Herrera chested down a cross from Alexis Sanchez into the path of Pogba who was clean through to fire home.
And 97 seconds later Pogba made it 2-2 as he was left free to finish the move he started when he headed home Herrera’s cross.
It was his fifth goal of the season and first since November.
United might even have snatched the lead on the hour when Sanchez robbed Danilo and set up Jesse Lingard who fired narrowly wide.
Mourinho’s men scored a third goal with 21 minutes left when Smalling, caught cold for City’s first goal, made amends by putting the Reds ahead with a volley from eight yards following Sanchez’s free kick.
Guardiola responded by bringing on two of his big hitters, De Bruyne and Jesus as they replaced the two Silvas. And that was quickly followed by a last change as Sergio Aguero, returning after injury, took over from Gundogan.
There was a rash of bookings after City failed to win a penalty after a challenge by Young on Aguero. He got the ball, but it looked to be a two-footed lunge with the You Are The Ref website’s running commentary saying it was a clear spot kick.
United’s first change with eight minutes left saw Sanchez replaced by Rashford. And a second quickly followed as Scott McTominay replaced Lingard.
City hit back and twice came close to equalising in quick succession.
De Gea made a stupendous save to turn over Aguero’s header and Sterling then turned Nicolas Otamendi’s shot on to the upright.
United made their last change in the fourth of five added minutes when Lindelof replaced Herrera as they managed the latter stages superbly to emerge victors and ruin what had been expected to be City’s party.