(Football news) Erling Haaland, who usually scores twice in a game, then laid a check on Phil Foden to add insult to injury as the hosts’ three-game winning streak was humiliatingly ended by their fierce opponents.
A few concerns were raised by the team selections made by both coaches. Jack Grealish replaced Jeremy Doku at left wing for Man City, while Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans were preferred over Raphael Varane in defense.
The Old Trafford supporters’ hearts were in their mouths in just eight minutes, despite the Red Devils’ early incursions into the City third. Andre Onana palmed a header from Foden into the air, and Maguire cleared the ball off the line.
The fans of Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning team were ecstatic in the 22nd minute when Rasmus Hojlund seized Rodri inside the area and was found to have committed a penalty after a video assistant’s review.
Onana and the Manchester United supporters attempted to intimidate Haaland, with the former receiving a booking for indulging in time-wasting activities while the home supporters erupted in a chant honouring his father. However, in the 26th minute, the cool Scandinavian talent sent Onana the wrong way to give City the lead.
In the 31st minute, Hojlund made a valiant attempt to atone for his mistakes when he slipped past Ederson and behind the City defence. However, a bad touch caused him to miss, and when he cut back to Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese player fired over from a close range.
Emperors unavoidably flared at the close of the half, with Sofyan Amrabat and Foden receiving yellow cards each after a short set-to, but in added time, both goalkeepers stole the show for the appropriate reasons.
Ederson’s powerful hand kept the always dangerous Scott McTominay from netting an equaliser, and Onana somehow managed to get across his line and stop Haaland from scoring his second from a close-range header.
The Citizens forward, however, got a perfect replica of that aerial opportunity in the 49th minute, and he was not going to let it get away again. Bernardo Silva found him in acres of space at the back post, and he nodded past a diving Onana, who was unable to replicate his heroics from the first half.
Despite Amrabat’s halftime substitution of Mason Mount, which had no impact, the flat rivals continued to control possession of the ball as the champs refused to back down and accept pressure from Manchester United.
In the 69th minute, though, Marcus Rashford found himself one-on-one with Ederson after Christian Eriksen saw his gliding run past the Man City defence. However, he was unable to get the ball under his feet and missed from a sharp angle.
Two minutes later, normal service was restored when Haaland was slid through for a potential hat-trick, but Onana emerged, stayed large, and deflected the Norwegian’s chip with his face to a corner.
As Hojlund, who has yet to score in the Premier League, was substituted by Ten Hag late in the game, jeers broke out, and the opposition supporters kept up the clamour as their team played with a Manchester United team that lacked inspiration and conviction.
In the 80th minute, Rodri and Foden produced Manchester City’s third goal from a yard away after another passing movement around the United box concluded with Rodri stinging Onana’s palms. Onana could only palm the ball out to Haaland on the right.
Even though Man City kept up their offensive gains, they were unable to score a fourth goal. As a result, they fell behind Arsenal in third position on the goal score chart, while Man United, who have played 10 games this season and have 15 points, are five places worse off in eighth place.
Manchester United will now get ready to defend the EFL Cup at home against Man City’s third-round opponent, Newcastle United, on Wednesday. Guardiola’s squad will then play Bournemouth at the Etihad the following Saturday.
