Man City 3-1 Man United: Erling Haaland shrugged off his miss for the ages then struck the killer blow after Phil Foden's brilliant double
- Man City came from behind to beat rivals Man United in a thrilling Premier League affair on Sunday evening
- Marcus Rashford gave the visitors the lead before Phil Foden and Erling Haaland scored in the second-half
- Is Bruno Fernandes good enough to make the bench for Manchester City? Listen to the It's All Kicking Off podcast
Pep Guardiola sat in his post-match press conference and identified a moment that defined Manchester City’s victory in the Manchester derby here at the Etihad Stadium yesterday. It was not a goal. It was a miss. It was not a moment of triumph. It was a moment of adversity.
Guardiola played it through in his mind. It was the stroke of half-time and City were 1-0 down. Rodri’s flighted ball from left to right found Phil Foden on the right side of the Manchester United six-yard box. Foden nodded it across goal into the path of Erling Haaland, the same Erling Haaland who scored five goals against Luton Town last week.
The goal yawned, a bit like the chasm between these two teams yawned all afternoon. Haaland was three yards out. Three yards at the most. He raised his left boot to prod it over the line and then, to great groans of astonishment, this goalscoring machine somehow lifted it over the crossbar instead.
Guardiola smiled when he thought of that moment. He loved that moment. He loved it because of the way Haaland recovered from it and what that said about him and what it said about a City team that has won 21 points from losing positions this season and moved back to within a point of leaders Liverpool, who they play next Sunday at Anfield, with this victory.
‘I have been lucky enough to work with a lot of great players,’ Guardiola said, ‘and I see how they deal with things like that. After 10 seconds, they erase it. To forget, in an instant, is what they do. The great golfers, the great basketball players, when they miss, they smile and then they go for the next one.’
![Phil Foden (left) scored twice to complete a dramatic comeback during the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81983755-13151861-image-a-1_1709486327917.jpg)
Phil Foden (left) scored twice to complete a dramatic comeback during the Manchester derby on Sunday afternoon
![The England international found the back of the net twice in the second-half to help earn Man City a 3-1 win over rivals United](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81983729-13151861-image-a-3_1709486346044.jpg)
The England international found the back of the net twice in the second-half to help earn Man City a 3-1 win over rivals United
![Erling Haaland (left) scored a late third goal for the champions - who continued their 2023-24 title charge with another win](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81983859-13151861-image-a-11_1709486698917.jpg)
Erling Haaland (left) scored a late third goal for the champions - who continued their 2023-24 title charge with another win
![United had taken the lead early on in the tie but saw all three points snatched away after conceding three in the second-half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81984259-13151861-image-a-31_1709488401982.jpg)
United had taken the lead early on in the tie but saw all three points snatched away after conceding three in the second-half
![Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola pumps his fists as his side moved one point behind league leaders Liverpool](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81983815-13151861-image-a-10_1709486460536.jpg)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola pumps his fists as his side moved one point behind league leaders Liverpool
And that is what his City team do, too. That is what they did in this comeback victory over United. This is what they achieved when they condemned United to defeat after United had been leading against them at half-time for the first time in nearly 10 years in the Premier League. City smile, then they go for the next one.
And so, when Haaland missed, City simply rejoined the battle. United had the lead but they were so awed by City’s dominance that they played like a team who knew they would not keep it. They played like a minnow in a cup game. They played like an underdog. They played like a dupe who thinks that by doing nothing he might get lucky.
Nobody can beat City that way because City just keep coming. They take a setback and they do not miss a beat. They keep moving forward. Bernardo Silva kept orchestrating, Rodri kept prompting, Haaland kept working and eventually scored his 80th goal for City in 84 games, Kevin De Bruyne kept probing and Foden, City’s marauding, magnificent match-winner, kept scoring. That is what they do, particularly at this time of year.
They are the Irresistibles. And if you play with the lack of ambition that United showed, you play into their hands. Because they have so much belief that, if they meet a setback, they keep getting back up off the floor until they win.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United’s new minority owner, talked recently about knocking City off their perch, but at the moment they are barely ruffling a feather. In fact, they have not even gained admission to the aviary.
Their performance was heavy with a mute acceptance City are leagues ahead of them. United are a long, long way away from City’s perch.
Sure, United had made City work for it. Marcus Rashford scored an early wonder goal for United and they made City and their fans sweat for a while.
They made them fret about whether they would close the gap to Liverpool again after their last-gasp win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
But City forgot adversity and City smiled and the rewards came, as they always do. And so City roll on. And on and on. And the title race is taking on a familiar feel. Liverpool win. Then City win. Liverpool win, then City win. Throw in Arsenal for good measure this time, too. No one is blinking yet. No one is folding.
City are now 18 points ahead of United, who are facing an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League. Try as they might, appoint who they might as manager, United just do not seem able to close that quality gap to their noisy neighbours.
![Marcus Rashord (middle) had opened the scoring for the visitors, before the hosts struck three goals in the second-half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81983787-13151861-image-a-7_1709486408972.jpg)
Marcus Rashord (middle) had opened the scoring for the visitors, before the hosts struck three goals in the second-half
![Rashford found the back of the net from 25-yards out within the opening eight minutes to stun the Etihad crowd](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81983777-13151861-image-a-8_1709486414340.jpg)
Rashford found the back of the net from 25-yards out within the opening eight minutes to stun the Etihad crowd
It feels more and more as if time is running out at Old Trafford for Erik ten Hag. United began the game with a fiery speech from him ringing in their ears. The players, the manager said, had to show ‘passion, desire, determination and intimidation’.
And soon Bruno Fernandes showed his mettle. Andre Onana punted a long ball forward and Fernandes held off Ruben Dias and brought it under control. Fernandes held the ball up and laid it into the path of Rashford.
The forward has been low on confidence this season. He has been pilloried by United fans for a perceived lack of effort and commitment. Even a personal essay in his name in the Players’ Tribune last week, in which he restated his dedication to the club, was met with scepticism by many United fans.
Maybe some of that was going through Rashford’s mind as the ball came to him. He smashed it towards goal first time from 25 yards out.
It flew like an arrow, beating Ederson as he arched his back to try to reach it, and slammed off the underside of the crossbar and into the net in front of the sections where the away fans stood.
Onana saved well from Foden when the England forward, watched by Gareth Southgate, was through on goal and Rashford missed his kick at the other end when Scott McTominay’s pass found him in the City box. The home support cheered delightedly. Haaland’s bad miss before the interval brought a similar reaction from United supporters.
United began the second half with a rare period of possession and Rashford was played in behind the City defence once again. He had the jump on Kyle Walker but Walker was in close pursuit and, as he gave chase, Rashford tumbled to the floor. Referee Andrew Madley waved play on. Ten Hag hurled his water bottle to the floor in a fury.
A few seconds later, his fury grew. City moved the ball up the pitch to the edge of the United area. De Bruyne passed to Rodri, Rodri passed to Foden, who was faced with Victor Lindelof.
Rashford had a glimpse of a chance to double his tally a few minutes later when he ran clean through on goal from near half way. He had Kyle Walker in close attendance, though, and when he tried to nod the ball onwards, he knocked it sideways and lost momentum and Walker cleared the danger.
A few seconds later, his fury grew. City moved the ball up the pitch to the edge of the United area. De Bruyne passed to Rodri, Rodri passed to Foden, who was faced with Victor Lindelof. Foden jinked to his left and stepped outside Lindelof before unleashing an unstoppable rising drive beyond the reach of Onana. It was a simple goal, gilded with a touch of brilliance.
Foden, who scored a hat-trick against United at the Etihad in City’s 6-3 win last season, jinked to his left and stepped outside Lindelof before unleashing an unstoppable rising drive beyond the reach of Onana. It was a simple goal, gilded with a touch of brilliance.
City pressed for the winner but they survived a scare at the other end 12 minutes from time when Alejandro Garnacho ran on to a through ball and Ederson rushed out to meet him.
The Brazilian flung himself into a tackle with Garnacho and got the ball, although he sent Garnacho tumbling in the process. VAR checked the incident and decided there was no penalty.
![Foden wheeled away in celebration after finding the back of the net for the first time in the match and drawing his side level](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81983745-13151861-image-a-24_1709487963175.jpg)
Foden wheeled away in celebration after finding the back of the net for the first time in the match and drawing his side level
![Haaland found the back of the net in added time to wrap up the victory for the hosts after a frantic second half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/03/17/81984237-13151861-image-a-25_1709488339079.jpg)
Haaland found the back of the net in added time to wrap up the victory for the hosts after a frantic second half
And then the sequence repeated itself: a controversial decision against United followed by a goal for City. And for Foden.
Again, the build-up was notable for its beautiful simplicity. De Bruyne played the ball into Foden, Foden played a 1-2 with substitute Julian Alvarez, took the ball forward and sidefooted it past Onana, who got a touch to it but could not keep it out.
A win turned into another beating when Onana and Sofyan Amrabat made a hash of playing the ball out from the back in the first minute of added time.
Rodri stole the ball from them and fed Haaland, who gleefully slid it home. The earlier miss was long forgotten. Haaland smiled. City roll on.
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