Phil Foden’s two goals in the second half secured victory for the blue side of Manchester as Manchester City rallied from behind to defeat Manchester United at Etihad Stadium in the derby.
In a match brimming with international talents, it was two local talents who stole the spotlight.
Despite the visitors taking the lead through Marcus Rashford’s remarkable 30-yard strike early on, Manchester City controlled much of the game, with Phil Foden emerging as the key figure.
Foden’s second-half equalizer was not without controversy. United manager Erik ten Hag protested that his team should have been awarded a free-kick in City’s half when Rashford went down following Kyle Walker’s challenge. However, the minimal contact was swiftly followed by Foden’s brilliant curling shot past Andre Onana.
The local lad then capitalized on a static Casemiro to net City’s second goal, latching onto Julian Alvarez’s return pass. Erling Haaland later sealed the win in stoppage time, making amends for an earlier miss from close range.
The victory marked City’s sixth win in seven encounters against United, who suffered their 11th defeat in the Premier League this season.
Importantly, the result sees Pep Guardiola’s side move within a point of league leaders Liverpool ahead of their upcoming clash at Anfield.
Meanwhile, United find themselves in sixth place, now trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by 11 points and sixth-placed Tottenham by six, with the latter potentially clinching a fifth Champions League spot, despite having played one more game.
Foden’s class stands out
It was a fitting narrative to see Stockport-born Foden emerge as the match-winner.
Reflecting on the past, it feels like ages ago when Guardiola faced scrutiny for his handling of Foden, accused of hindering the player’s progress while Jadon Sancho thrived at Borussia Dortmund, having chosen not to wait for development opportunities at City.
The divergent paths of the two players are starkly evident now, with Sancho, once cast aside by United, finding himself back on loan at Dortmund.
Foden’s equalizer marked City’s 600th goal in this stadium under Guardiola’s tenure and was a moment of sheer brilliance, a curled shot into the top corner, leaving Onana helpless after Foden darted across Victor Lindelof on the right flank of United’s box.
His second goal showcased his versatility as he surged into the area from the opposite side, receiving a pass from Julian Alvarez and driving a low shot home, almost slipping past the United keeper, who perhaps could have done better.
Foden has now mastered the art of timing his contributions to attacks, prompting England manager Gareth Southgate to ponder including the 23-year-old, who boasts 18 goals this season, in his starting lineup for Euro 2024 alongside the likes of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
Despite Haaland’s relief at finding the net, highlighted by his astonishing miss in the first half when he somehow failed to convert Foden’s knock-back into an open goal from three yards, City had already triumphed over United once again by then.
Rashford on target but United well beaten
Leading up to the match, Rashford shared his personal journey from poverty to Manchester United’s first team in a heartfelt piece for Players’ Tribune, underscoring the profound significance of the club in his life.
It was a deeply introspective account, offering readers a glimpse into Rashford’s inner world.
However, for a considerable segment of fans who have scrutinized Rashford’s performances this season, highlighting perceived shortcomings in goal-scoring and displays of disinterest, his words fell on deaf ears. To them, the prevailing sentiment was “let your actions on the pitch speak for themselves.”
In that regard, Rashford may never replicate the sheer brilliance of his eighth-minute opener.
Fernandes exhibited excellent composure to hold off Ruben Dias and control Onana’s long kick downfield. Sensing McTominay’s run into the box, Fernandes displayed remarkable awareness, waiting for Rashford’s timely arrival from behind.
He then delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Rashford, who seamlessly connected with the ball and unleashed a shot into City’s net, striking the underside of the crossbar.
Rashford came close to adding another goal, but his attempt to control Fernandes’ lofted pass amidst a stationary home defense resulted in him inadvertently heading the ball into the ground, allowing Kyle Walker to intervene and thwart the threat.
That chance proved to be United’s final genuine opportunity as they struggled to withstand City’s relentless onslaught.
Despite Ten Hag’s charges displaying commendable effort, they lacked the necessary personnel to withstand City’s pressure.
New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has expressed his ambition to topple City from their perch. However, based on the evidence from this match, achieving that goal will require considerable effort and resources.