In a thrilling derby encounter, Manchester City orchestrated a remarkable comeback, overcoming an early setback as Marcus Rashford’s sensational strike granted Manchester United an initial lead at the Etihad.
Despite an astonishing miss by Erling Haaland just before halftime, City rallied with Phil Foden emerging as the star, notching two crucial goals.
The first came as he expertly blasted into the top corner, leveling the score, while his composed finish in the final moments secured City’s comfortable victory.
Erling Haaland, despite his earlier blunder, redeemed himself by adding the icing on the cake with a goal, making it his sixth in four Premier League derbies against United.
This crucial 3-1 win keeps City within one point of Premier League leaders Liverpool as they gear up for a pivotal clash next weekend.
However, the match was not without controversy, as Erik ten Hag, United’s manager, expressed frustration over City’s equalizer, claiming a foul against Rashford at the other end seconds earlier.
Nevertheless, United’s 11th league defeat of the season leaves them trailing by 11 points from the top four with 11 games remaining.
Rashford, who recently faced criticism regarding his commitment, silenced his critics by showcasing his goal-scoring prowess with a stunning long-range effort.
Despite City’s dominance throughout the match, resilient goalkeeping by Andre Onana and some wayward finishing initially kept the scoreline in check.
Pep Guardiola’s men now look ahead to a crucial showdown with Liverpool, maintaining the pressure at the top of the Premier League table.