MAN CITY 1, MAN UTD 2
Manchester United snatched the unlikeliest of derby victories after a smash and grab at the Eithad.
It looked as though City’s miserable run was over as they were ahead in the 88th minute through Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header.
What had been a far from memorable clash looked to be petering out into a relatively comfortable City win when they were hit by a double whammy.
Bruno Fernandes levelled with a penalty after Mattheus Nunes had needlessly chopped down Amad Diallo.
Then City had hardly had time to draw breath when they were behind when Amad raced onto Lisandro Martinez’ through ball and rounded keeper Ederson before rolling the ball into the net past Gvardiol who was guarding the line.
It was an astonishing turnabout as the United players celebrated in front of home fans and members of the Reds’ backroom team rolled on the pitch in sheer delight.
The scenes of jubilation continued long after the final whistle as the distraught City players left the pitch with heads bowed as they now have one win in 11 matches in all competitions with eight ending in defeat.
It gave United head coach Ruben Amorim his second win of the season against City who he had also beaten 4-1 while in charge at Sporting Lisbon.
Amorim said: “It was incredible. I think we deserved it.
“We did a great job and didn’t allow Manchester City much, though we didn’t create much.
“It was different to Arsenal as we controlled the game. It was a very tough match, but we believe until the end. We managed to score, we needed that win, it was important for us and for our fans.
“We were in the game for 90 minutes and that is very good. We talk about the Arsenal game. We played well in the first half, but they were not believing that we could win. Today was so much more different.
“I also believe. Then we have Fergie time, and we put the things together and something magic happened. It was a good day for us.
“They [the fans] need it. Just like us, but you can see the way they celebrate is special. But we need to continue. Our club needs to win these kinds of matches, I understand the happiness of our fans but we need to continue.
Embed from Getty Images“With a victory for City, the performance was the same. We need to improve a lot of things but today the guys deserved the win. They were in it until the last minute and that is important for us.”
Amorim also discussed the surprise omissions of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the squad, denying it was for disciplinary reasons.
He hinted why saying the decision was based on performances in training, eating and engaging with team-mates.
“When people are losing their jobs, we have to put standards high and we proved we can leave anyone out of the squad if we keep together,” he said.
Amorim pointed out Jonny Evans had done everything right in training, but he was also at home and that was not for disciplinary reasons.
“With Rash [Rashford] we had tried things which have not worked so we tried something different,” he added.
Amorim was not getting carried away saying it was only one week previous they had a “difficult moment” losing at home to Nottingham Forest.
“It’s been a good day. Let’s enjoy it for 10 minutes before moving on,” he said.
Guardiola said: “Not much to say. No defence, they were incredibly persistent. We have not lost eight games in two seasons. We can’t defend that. It’s not about this or that player. We gave away goals, our fault. We don’t play with composure. The results are not good, the game was not exceptional. I know the situation. I understand but the reality is this.
“They have to know that these situations happen. In the box you have to be careful. It’s not about Matheus [Nunes], he played really good in not his position at full-back. But it’s not about that, we have to play better. The result will help us to take our best but right now we don’t have it. The way I learn is to keep going.
“I’m not good enough. I am the boss, the manager, I have to find solutions and so far I haven’t. That’s the reality.
“We want to play better, create chances. But at the moment it’s not possible.”
City made two changes to the side that began their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Juventus on Wednesday.
Matheus Nunes and Phil Foden both started with Rico Lewis suspended and Jack Grealish dropping to the bench.
United made changes to the side that started their 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League on Thursday.
Harry Maguire, Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Manuel Ugarte all came in to replace Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro, Joshua Zirkzee, who dropped to the bench.
United were forced into an early change as Mount limped off to be replaced by Kobbie Mainoo in the 14th minute.
City had the first clear-cut chance after 20 minutes when a poor headed clearance found Foden outside the box and his half volley fizzed narrowly wide.
United opened the City defence for the first time when Ugarte released Amad who, clean through, pulled his shot wide when he looked certain to score.
Replays suggested he had strayed offside which spared the embarrassment of a glaring miss.
City made the all-important breakthrough in the 36th minute as Gvardiol netted his fourth goal of the season, albeit with a huge slice of good fortune.
A short corner was returned by Ilkay Gundogan to Kevin De Bruyne whose cross took a sizeable deflection off Amad looping to Gvardiol who rose above Diogo Dalot to head home from six yards.
There was then an angry exchange after Kyle Walker fouled Hojlund who reacted by putting his head into the face of Walker who went down as though he had been butted which was not the case as players from both sides were involved in an ugly melee. Both players went into Anthony Taylor’s notebook.
City almost doubled their advantage in stoppage time when Foden made a slalom run and his shot from outside the box was deflected off Harry Maguire and flew just past the upright.
United had an appeal for a penalty rejected after Hojlund went down under a challenge from Ruben Dias. There was contact but Taylor deemed it insufficient to merit a spot kick.
City made their first change with 22 minutes left as De Bruyne made way for Mateo Kovacic.
United ought to have levelled with 16 minutes left when Hojlund threaded a through ball to release Fernandes who chipped Ederson but saw the ball roll wide as he sank to his knees with his head in the turf in utter disbelief.
Guardiola made a second change as Grealish replaced Doku while Amorim made a tripe one as Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Hojlund made way for Antony, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee.
The fightback was sparked by an awful back pass from Nunes which Amad latched on to and raced clear to round Ederson.
As Nunes tried to atone his error, he needlessly clattered into Amad who had checked and not in a position to score – it was a blatant spot kick which Fernandes sent Ederson the wrong way.
City were stunned but that was nothing compared to the seismic shock two minutes later when United completed an amazing turnabout.
Martinez punted a long ball forward to release Amad who lifted the ball over Ederson before slotting home from a tight angle and beyond Gvardiol who was covering on the line.
The contrasting emotions were palpable – City fans heading for the exit not believing what they had witnessed and the Reds’ supporters celebrating a victory which seemed scarcely possible minutes earlier – that why football is the beautiful game and can in games like this be so compelling to witness.