Manchester United claimed three points in a remarkable city derby against Manchester City on Sunday. The home side seemed well on their way to victory, but in the final minutes of the match, United completely turned it around thanks to Amad Diallo: 1-2. City has now lost eight of their last eleven matches.
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Injury-plagued City has entered a free fall and apparently has not yet hit rock bottom.
After another frustrating defeat, this time at home against arch-rivals Manchester United, the reigning champions are left searching for answers amid a worrying run of form. Hosting United, who had lost their previous two league matches, Pep Guardiola’s side looked in control for much of the game, yet their inability to close it out proved costly.
City started the match strongly, with their usual dominance in possession and quick interplay in midfield. Despite the absence of key players due to injuries, the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri dictated the tempo, pinning United deep in their own half. The breakthrough seemed inevitable, and it came ten minutes before halftime. Following a short corner, Kevin De Bruyne delivered an inch-perfect cross into the penalty area. Josko Gvardiol, timing his run perfectly, rose above the United defense to power a header into the back of the net. The Etihad Stadium erupted as City fans felt that their team was back on track.
United, on the other hand, struggled to gain a foothold in the first half. Manager Erik ten Hag had made some notable decisions, with Matthijs de Ligt in the starting lineup and Joshua Zirkzee left on the bench. However, those changes failed to inspire an immediate impact. The visitors failed to muster a single shot on target, and their main attacking outlet, Rasmus Højlund, was largely anonymous. Højlund did, however, become the center of attention after a heated altercation with Kyle Walker. Walker, always willing to mix it up in big games, attempted to provoke the young Danish striker, even trying to draw a red card with a theatrical reaction to a minor confrontation. The referee wasn’t fooled, showing yellow cards to both players as tempers flared.
The second half began with City still controlling possession, but cracks began to show. United, though lacking creativity, began to push higher up the pitch, forcing City into occasional mistakes. The first clear sign of life from United came 15 minutes into the half. Amad Diallo, who had been introduced to provide more attacking impetus, connected with a cross to send a powerful header toward goal. Ederson, ever reliable, produced a stunning save to deny the equalizer and maintain City’s narrow lead.
United’s next big chance came through Bruno Fernandes, who found himself in space after a clever exchange of passes just outside the box. Spotting Ederson slightly off his line, Fernandes attempted an audacious chip, but the ball curled agonizingly wide of the far post. At this point, City fans felt a collective sigh of relief. While their side was far from their fluent best, a gritty 1-0 win seemed to be within reach.
However, football has a way of punishing complacency, and City’s fragile confidence came back to haunt them in the final moments. The catalyst for United’s comeback was an uncharacteristic error from Matheus Nunes. Under minimal pressure, Nunes attempted to pass the ball back to Ederson but played it far too short. Amad Diallo, who had been lively since coming on, seized the opportunity, pouncing on the loose ball and racing toward goal. Nunes, desperate to atone for his error, chased Diallo down but ended up bringing him down in the box. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation.
Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take the penalty. The Portuguese playmaker, renowned for his composure in such situations, sent Ederson the wrong way and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. The equalizer stunned the Etihad crowd, who had grown increasingly nervous as the game wore on. Suddenly, United smelled blood.
With momentum on their side, United pushed forward in search of an unlikely winner. Their persistence was rewarded in the dying minutes of the match. Lisandro Martínez, deep in his own half, spotted Diallo making a darting run behind City’s high defensive line. Martínez delivered a long, precise ball over the top, and Diallo’s first touch was sublime. He expertly controlled the ball, taking it past the onrushing Ederson with a deft movement. From a seemingly impossible angle, Diallo managed to steer the ball into the net, sending the United bench into wild celebrations.
The late winner was a moment of brilliance and determination from Diallo, who not only turned the match on its head but cemented himself as the hero of the evening. For Manchester United, it was a statement victory in a season marked by inconsistency. The result gave their fans a glimmer of hope that the team could regain form and climb back into the race for European places.
For Manchester City, however, the defeat was another chapter in what is rapidly becoming a crisis. Having now lost eight of their last eleven matches, Guardiola’s side is grappling with both injuries and a loss of confidence. Questions will be asked about the squad’s depth, as well as their mental resilience in tight games. The absence of key defensive players, combined with uncharacteristic mistakes, has left City vulnerable in crucial moments.
The defeat further dampens City’s title hopes and increases the pressure on Guardiola to find solutions quickly. With fixtures coming thick and fast, City cannot afford to dwell on this result. However, the mood around the club is undeniably somber, as fans and pundits alike wonder whether the champions can recover from this slump or if their struggles are a sign of deeper problems.
Meanwhile, United will savor this hard-fought victory for some time. It wasn’t their most polished performance, but their spirit and determination shone through when it mattered most. Amad Diallo’s heroics will be remembered as the defining moment of a thrilling derby that showcased the unpredictable drama of football.
