Manchester City 1 Manchester United 0: Thoughts and observations from City’s massive derby win
· Yahoo Sports
Manchester City 1 (Erling Haaland 60′)
Manchester United 0
Red card: Phil Foden 23′.
The 199th Manchester derby has been won by Manchester City today at Old Trafford. Enzo Maresca’s side were reduced to ten men when Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute. However, City overcame that setback. They defended superbly and their character, fight and team spirit stood out today. Erling Haaland’s 60th minute goal was enough for City to pick up all three points. Every City player deserves credit for their performance in trying circumstances today.
When the starting lineups were announced Enzo Maresca had made one change from the starting eleven which beat FC Porto. Elliot Anderson replaced Ayyoub Bouaddi in midfield. That news didn’t particularly come as a major surprise. In fact it was an expected change as Elliot Anderson’s energy in midfield would likely be vital in today’s match. It was clear that Maresca was trusting the lineup who had started the season with four consecutive wins to begin the 199th Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Visit newsbetting.bond for more information.
First half.
Manchester City began the game brightly in the opening five minutes. They did have several half chances to play through Manchester United’s defence but they were broken up by clever fouls from United’s defenders. Manchester United would have the first shot on target of the match. Defender Lisandro Martinez fired a left-footed strike straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma from 20 yards out after a Bruno Fernandes free kick into the area was cleared by the City defence.
As the game ticked into the 15th minute, the pattern of the game did become apparent. Enzo Maresca’s side were dominating possession and Manchester United were sweating on City losing possession or trying to force City into errors on the ball in midfield. This seemed to be the method that Michael Carrick’s side were employing to try and get at a perceived area of concern for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. Elliot Anderson had a massive job in Manchester City’s midfield to fulfil. If he was bypassed, United did look to have a run at Manchester City’s backline.
Phil Foden sees red after lashing out at Bruno Fernandes.
The derby would take a massive swing in the 23rd minute. Bruno Fernandes fouled Phil Foden on the far touchline and Fernandes subtlely kicked out at Foden as he lay on the ground. Foden retaliated and kicked out at the midriff of the Manchester United captain, who went down theatrically. Michael Oliver showed Foden a red card for lashing out at the Portuguese international. Bruno Fernandes somehow avoided any card for his part in the incident. But Foden has to know better than that. It was the first red card of Foden’s career and it was a massive moment in the match.
Following Phil Foden’s red card, Manchester City kept a strong defensive shape with two banks of four in front of Gianluigi Donnarumma with Erling Haaland the lone man up front. Up until the 37th minute, Manchester United hadn’t created any real chances and City did have their moments in attack. Antoine Semenyo saw a deflected cross flash across goal in the 35th minute and Rayan Cherki also had a couple of half chances that unfortunately amounted to nothing.
In the 45th minute Marcus Rashford would fire a free kick from 25 yards out into the post. Rashford’s free kick came from the left-hand side of the City area and Gianluigi Donnarumma was beaten if the ball would’ve crept inside the post. However, fortune was on Manchester City’s side on this occasion.
Marcus Rashford’s free kick would be the final significant chance of the first half. Enzo Fernandez was held in the United penalty area in the 46th minute after receiving possession in a dangerous position from Antoine Semenyo. But Michael Oliver waved play on and Enzo Maresca was booked for his protests at Oliver’s decision to wave play on. The match would be level at nil-all at halftime.
Impressions of Manchester City’s first half performance.
There wasn’t a lot to take from Manchester City’s first half display in terms of their attacking play following Phil Foden’s red card. Enzo Maresca’s side set up well defensively after Foden’s sending off. For the most part they kept United’s possession play in front of them. City did have several promising moments on the break and that would likely be their best route to goal in the second half.
Phil Foden’s red card was obviously the major talking point of the first half. It did seem ridiculous that Bruno Fernandes escaped any punishment for his role in Foden’s moment of madness. The Manchester United captain’s kick when the England international was laying on the ground did provoke Foden. Having said that, Foden has to know better than to retaliate. Phil Foden is an experienced player now and he cannot be leaving his team short in such a big game. It was his recklessness that gave Michael Oliver the opportunity to send him off. Say what you like about the incident, but Foden simply has to be better in such situations.
Second half.
Enzo Maresca brought on Iliman Ndiaye for Rayan Cherki at halftime. It did seem to be a smart move by Maresca. Ndiaye’s work rate out of possession and pace could prove to be vital in the second half given how the match was expected to play out with Manchester City down to ten men.
Kobbie Mainoo would curl an effort from 20 yards out into the post as Manchester United aimed to press home their one-man advantage in the 50th minute. Mainoo was teed up by Bruno Fernandes and his shot hit the post and hit the sprawling Gianluigi Donnarumma’s back before the Italian keeper smothered the ball.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo would curl efforts high and wide in the 53rd and 56th minutes as Manchester United were clearly playing with more intensity after halftime. City were being pinned back into their own area as the shape of the second half was beginning to become obvious.
It seems that Erling Haaland has a goal ruled out for offside, however it is given and Manchester City take the lead!!!!!
Manchester City would take the lead in the 60th minute. Antoine Semenyo held up play superbly well on the left and played a nice reverse ball back to Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian international played the ball across the United are and Erling Haaland finished superbly at the back post to beat United keeper Senne Lammens. On first glance, Haaland’s goal was disallowed. However, after a lengthy VAR check, Haaland’s goal stood and City had a 1-0 lead. On a day where the 50/50 calls were going against Enzo Maresca’s side, one finally went their way. Also, it was the correct decision as Haaland was onside for Gvardiol’s cross. Enzo Fernandez was not but the Argentinian midfielder didn’t make contact with his attempted header so the goal stood.
Manchester City almost took a 2-0 lead in the 68th minute. Erling Haaland received possession in midfield and he played a ball out wide to the left to Antoine Semenyo. The Ghana international ran at the United defence and set up Enzo Fernandez for an opportunity to shoot on the edge of the area. Fernandez’s shot was tipped onto the post by Senne Lammens. At the other end, Bruno Fernandes forced a sharp save from Gianluigi Donnarumma as he unleashed a powerful low drive on target.
City continued to push for a second goal as their fighting spirit rose to the fore.
Erling Haaland flashed a chance wide in the 76th minute. Enzo Fernandez won a free kick on the right wing after some clever play between himself and Iliman Ndiaye. Fernandez played a clever low ball across the United area that Haaland got a boot to and his shot went wide. Perhaps Haaland could’ve left the ball for Marc Guehi who was in a better position. However, Guehi looked offside when the ball was played.
Enzo Fernandez was replaced by Nico O’Reilly with ten minutes left to play. The Argentinian midfielder had given everything to his team’s cause with a superb display in midfield. City had a 1-0 lead to hang onto as the 199th Manchester derby entered its closing stages.
When the board went up, there would be five minutes of second-half stoppage time for Manchester City to navigate. City had defended superbly with ten men. However, the job wasn’t yet complete. Enzo Maresca’s side had one final job to do to claim a famous derby victory.
Gianluigi Donnarumma made a stunning save to preserve Manchester City’s lead in the 5th minute of second-half stoppage time. Bruno Fernandes played Bryan Mbeumo in with a clever through ball. Mbeumo got a powerful right-footed shot on target, which Donnarumma kept out with a massive save. Donnarumma hadn’t had a lot of work to do. But when his moment came, he was more than ready to seize it.
Manchester City would see off Manchester United’s final corner to claim a famous derby victory. Enzo Maresca’s side defended superbly well with ten men. Every player on their pitch did their job to ensure that they left Old Trafford with all three points.
Thoughts and impressions from Manchester City’s fighting derby win.
Manchester City claimed a famous Manchester derby win today at Old Trafford. Enzo Maresca’s side had every reason to be turned over today. Phil Foden’s red card could have tilted the match massively in Manchester United’s favour.
However, the spirit, fight and character shown by Enzo Maresca’s side was first class. Yes, City had luck with Michael Carrick’s side hitting the post twice. That was needed for them to pick up all three points today. Erling Haaland’s 60th minute goal sealed City’s win. That feels like a massive moment in the growth of this new-look City side. To overcome adversity was a great sign of character. It shows that Enzo Maresca’s team is made of the right stuff.
Manchester City claimed bragging rights in the 199th Manchester derby. Their 1-0 win over Manchester United was built on everything that makes a team so strong. Manchester is blue and Enzo Maresca’s side showed what they are made of by overcoming the odds to pick up a famous win over their arch-rivals.