Manchester Derby Drama: Man City 1-2 Man Utd – Match Report and Key Takeaways

Manchester United achieved a

against Manchester City on Sunday.

After going down to Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header, United appeared on the brink of defeat until City faltered dramatically once more. Bruno Fernandes converted a penalty with five minutes remaining, just before Amad Diallo scored the decisive goal, marking Pep Guardiola’s side’s eighth loss in their last 11 matches.

The course of the match

Man City aimed to control the game from the start, but United’s pressing disrupted their rhythm, even after Mason Mount went down with an injury in the 14th minute.

The first shot didn’t arrive until 21 minutes in, when Phil Foden volleyed wide from the edge of the box. He followed that with another attempt that was deflected out, and Ruben Dias headed over from a subsequent corner.

Amad’s earlier miss in a one-on-one with Ederson quickly faded from memory as the offside flag was raised.

With ten minutes left in the first half, City struck first. A deflected cross reached Gvardiol, who expertly directed his header into the net, giving City the lead at halftime.

United emerged with more vigor in the second half, prompting Ederson to make a diving save from Amad, who still hadn’t forced United’s first shot on target.

Fernandes had a chance to level the score with 17 minutes left but scuffed his chipped shot wide after being set up by Hojlund.

With ten minutes to go, Kobbie Mainoo headed over as United pushed for an equalizer, and they were awarded a penalty five minutes from time after Matheus Nunes failed to execute a back-pass, sending Amad through on goal where he was brought down. Fernandes stepped up and converted the penalty without hesitation.

The City crumble continued moments later when Amad flicked the ball around a stunned Ederson and calmly sent it over the line, securing a spectacular three points for United.

Rashford & Garnacho omitted

The afternoon’s main topic of discussion occurred before the match, when it was announced that both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho would not be included in the squad.

that his choice was based on “everything,” not due to injury concerns. The new manager, though still acclimating to his role, likely anticipated the backlash from this decision.

The long-term implications of this choice remain unclear, but on the field, it’s evident that United faced shortcomings in attack, with Antony being the only substitute forward available. Amorim will be hoping that this bold exclusion of Rashford and Garnacho can lead to significant changes moving forward.

Man City shifts tactics but defensive issues persist

City reverted to their familiar 3-2-4-1 formation that they implemented last season in pursuit of defensive stability. For approximately 85 minutes, this strategy yielded positive results.

However, in line with their recent form, one moment of inattention proved ruinous for City. Nunes, playing as a makeshift left-back, not only delivered the poor back-pass that led to the equalizer but also conceded the penalty.

Under growing pressure, City compounded their issues as Amad pursued a seemingly lost ball, rounded Ederson, and tapped it into the net.

Set Pieces Once Again Hurt United

There was certainly an element of luck involved in City’s opening goal, as Kevin De Bruyne’s cross took a clear deflection from Amad. Nevertheless, United must confront the reality that they once again succumbed to a corner set-piece.

Although the deflection may have thrown Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund off, at least one of them should have been in a position to challenge Gvardiol, who headed the ball home unopposed.

Amorim attempted to implement a defensive strategy for set-pieces, with Hojlund focusing on neutralizing Erling Haaland, but there’s clearly much room for improvement.

United’s Resilience Shines

Though United were not at their best, there was a noticeable improvement, especially after Amorim had the opportunity to motivate his players during halftime.

The Red Devils demonstrated a fighting spirit in the second half, and despite needing a bit of luck to get back into the match, it was hard to argue against the fact that their efforts were warranted. United played with relentless determination until the final whistle, earning their equalizer.

With City struggling, United seized the moment, charging forward in search of a winner, and it was Amad who delivered once more, scoring one of the season’s most crucial goals.

Mason Mount Injured Again

Amorim’s arrival has positively influenced Mason Mount, who appears to thrive under the new coach’s energetic style. Regrettably, his progress has been interrupted by injury once more.

With both Rashford and Garnacho absent from the squad, Bruno Fernandes was positioned higher up the field, allowing Kobbie Mainoo to enter the game and partner Manuel Ugarte in the deeper role.

This situation will only intensify scrutiny on Rashford and Garnacho’s statuses within the team, particularly if Mount faces a prolonged recovery period, as this has left United thin in attacking options.