Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Man United Impress As They End City’s Run

Man United impressed today as Ole Gunnar Solskjær recorded another victory over Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. His side won the Manchester derby 2-0 thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw.

Despite the win, Manchester United remain 11 points behind City but will go home with three points and the local bragging rights.

Man United Impress With Great Start

They got off to the perfect start inside the opening 34 seconds, with Gabriel Jesus giving away the ball before fouling Anthony Martial in the penalty box.

Anthony Martial fouled as Gabriel Jesus gave away a penalty early on.

Bruno Fernandes took the penalty and his penalty was met by the hand of Brazilian Ederson, but the shot was enough to squeeze past the City goalkeeper.

Luke Shaw almost doubled United’s lead just minutes later with City right-back João Cancelo giving away the ball in the penalty box. Shaw capitalised but failed to hit the ball anywhere other than straight at Ederson.

Guardiola’s men gave the ball away sloppily in the opening five to ten minutes but soon grew into the first half. Both teams had chances, with İlkay Gündoğan hitting one shot straight at stand-in Dean Henderson and one shot over the bar.

Kevin De Bruyne had a free-kick tipped over the bar by Henderson and Jesus couldn’t make up for his earlier error as he failed to get on the end of Riyad Mahrez’s cross towards the end of the first half.

City failed to break down United in the first 45 minutes due to visitors’ compact shape and overall, the first half was a fairly equal contest.

City’s Struggles Breaking Down United

City started the second half well, with Rodri hitting the bar inside the opening three minutes of the second half.

Soon after this, Man United doubled their lead. Henderson started the move with Shaw picking up the ball inside his half. Shaw went on a brilliant run before finding Martial around the edge of the box before he was returned the ball by his French teammate in the penalty box. Shaw’s low shot found the bottom right corner and into the net.

Luke Shaw celebrates with teammates as his goal helped win the Manchester derby. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP)

United didn’t let up. They kept going and their counter-attacks troubled City all game. Martial almost made it 3-0 after a great passage of play from the Red Devils.

Scott McTominay played a pass which was squeezed into Martial, who failed to beat Ederson.

City brought on youngster Phil Foden and the substitute made an immediate impact. In a move started by Foden, the Englishman found Mahrez, who controlled the ball well before finding De Bruyne on the overlap. The Belgian crossed the ball which found Foden, who took one touch before hitting the ball wide of the goal.

Raheem Sterling missed some great chances late on, particularly one which could have given his side the chance to try and level the game. Substitute Kyle Walker played a beautiful ball perfectly into the direction of Sterling, who fluffed his lines in a chance that was easier to score than miss.

John Stones had a header in the 82nd minute and City appealed for a late penalty but this would have been in vain as they had a rare difficult day at the office.

Man City were not their usual selves in the Manchester derby.

City next face Southampton on Wednesday night as they look to further their stranglehold on the top spot. Meanwhile, United face A.C Milan in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 as they are set for a reunion with former player Zlatan Ibrahimović.

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