City sunk by late goals in Manchester derby

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Manchester City F.C.

·15 de diciembre de 2024

City sunk by late goals in Manchester derby

Two late goals saw Manchester City suffer a late 2-1 defeat in the Manchester derby at the Etihad.

City appeared to be heading for victory over Manchester United when Josko Gvardiol powered us ahead in the 30th minute with a well-placed header.

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Phil Foden went close to doubling our advantage before the visitors pinched the three points late in the game.

Bruno Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot before Amad Diallo scored a 90th minute winner.

WHAT HAPPENED

A high-tempo start saw City swarming all over the visitors in the early stages although a couple of dangerous crosses failed to find the target.

With injury issues for Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis suspended, Matheus Nunes was drafted back into the starting line-up at left-back.

And in the early stages, he was dovetailing well with Jeremy Doku down the left flank, with the Belgian winger nutmegging Noussair Mazraoui with an audacious piece of skill to earn a free-kick.

During a stoppage of play that saw Mason Mount replaced for United, Pep Guardiola gathered around his players and appeared to tell them to stay relaxed.

City had the first shot on goal in the 20th minute when Doku again jinked past Mazraoui and his cross fell to Foden, who volleyed just off-target.

Returning to the starting line-up after illness, last season’s Player of the Year was taking up dangerous positions in front of United’s back-five and worked opening well with Erling Haaland before his effort was deflected wide.

For United, Diallo twice got into threatening positions although he was given offside on each occasion after a delayed flag from the referee’s assistant.

While United’s heavily-manned defence was proving difficult to break down, Ruben Amorim’s side were apprehensive from corners with the unusual sight of a side practising dealing with them in the pre-match warm-up.

More than 40% of goals United have conceded this season, more than any team in the Premier League, have come from corners, with that figure rising again 10 minutes before the break.

A short corner routine saw a slightly under-hit pass to Kevin De Bruyne, but the Belgian’s cross deflected perfectly to Gvardiol who arrowed his header in the corner of the net.

From the restart, United won a free-kick with Rasmus Hojlund reacting angrily and planting his forehead on Kyle Walker with both players going into the book.

But it was City who continued to look the most menacing with Foden almost squeezing in a low shot that was deflected and tipped wide after cleverly creating the space himself.

Ederson made his first save after the hour-mark from a Diallo flick-header that could have potentially nestled inside the post with the Brazilian making sure by tipping it wide.

At the other end, De Bruyne, playing his 21st Manchester Derby rifled a shot over the bar with his final touch before he was replaced by Mateo Kovacic in his first appearance since the beginning of November.

As the clock ticked down, United began to me more adventurous and they created their best opportunity when Fernandes beat the offside trap but lifted his shot over Ederson and two yards’ wide of the goal.

But with four minutes remaining, Diallo pounced on Nunes’ short backpass and as the Portuguese tries to make amends, he caught the United winger with a clumsy challenge, Fernandes converting the spot-kick.

And there was to be a further twist when Diallo squeezed in a winner from a tight angle to take all three points.

TEAMS

City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Gundogan (Savinho 89), De Bruyne (Kovacic 67), Bernardo, Nunes, Foden, Doku (Grealish 77), Haaland

Subs not used: Ortega, Stones, Simpson-Pusey, Mubama, O'Reilly, McAtee

United: Onana, Mazraoui (Antony 79), De Ligt (Yoro 79), Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Ugarte, Mount (Mainoo 14), Fernandes, Amad (Lindelof 90+1), Hojlund (Zirkzee 79)

Subs not used: Bayindir, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen