•Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (2R) celebrates goal against Manchester United with teammates yesterday
Erling Haaland struck twice as Manchester City inflicted another damaging defeat on Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim with a comprehensive 3-0 win yesterday.
Phil Foden opened the scoring before Haaland took centre stage with a second-half double, either side of an incredible miss from the Norwegian, as City bounced back from two consecutive Premier League defeats, reports AFP.
United went into a derby ahead of City in the table for the first time in five years.
But that owed more to City’s early-season struggles than signs of progress for Amorim’s men, who have taken just four points from their opening four games and been dumped out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby.
To cap a fine City display, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma marked his debut with a stunning save from Bryan Mbeumo to deny United a foothold in the game at 2-0.
City remain six points adrift of leaders Liverpool, but victory is a huge confidence boost for Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of facing Serie A champions Napoli and Premier League title rivals Arsenal next week.
Before kick-off, both sets of fans put rivalry aside to pay tribute to boxing legend Ricky Hatton, who died on Sunday at the age of 46.
A massive City fan, Hatton’s face was displayed on big screens during a minute’s applause.
Foden, a fellow boyhood City supporter, said before kick-off the news gave the home side extra motivation to win in Hatton’s honour.
And the England international was central to a much-needed victory after a difficult start to the campaign for Foden and City.
The 25-year-old was the Premier League player of the season in the 2023/24 campaign, but his form dipped drastically last season.
Fitness issues meant he had not started a game this season until Sunday, but took just 18 minutes to make his mark.
United’s defence allowed Jeremy Doku to bundle his way to the by-line and the Belgian’s cross picked out Foden, completely unmarked, to head in the opening goal.
Both goalkeepers were under the spotlight as Ruben Amorim kept faith with Altay Bayindir over new signing Senne Lammens.
Donnarumma decisive
Tijjani Reijnders fired straight at Bayindir when presented with the chance to quickly double City’s advantage.
Doku was the creator once more when City did double their lead on 53 minutes.
Haaland showed his power, pace and incredible precision to dink the ball over the onrushing Bayindir.
City’s number nine went from the sublime to the ridiculous moments later when he missed an open goal with the chance to double his tally.
United were architects of their own danger as Matthijs de Ligt’s poor pass set up a City counter-attack.
Reijnders’ dummy set Haaland clear on goal, but after rounding Bayindir, he could only hit the post on the stretch.
Moments later Donnarumma produced his moment of magic to prevent what could have been a turning point.
Mbeumo’s sweetly-struck volley was arrowing into the bottom corner until the Italian reached out a giant right hand to turn it behind.
What could have been 2-1 was soon 3-0 thanks to another United gift.
Harry Maguire this time gave away possession to Bernardo Silva, who set Haaland racing away into the vacant United half and he kept his cool to score for the eighth time in nine appearances against United.
Reijnders should have rubbed further salt in the Red Devils’ wounds when the Dutch international slotted wide with just Bayindir to beat.
But that did not stop the City fans goading Amorim with chants of “sacked in the morning”.
The Portuguese is not in danger of an immediate dismissal, but his Premier League record now reads a dismal eight wins in 31 games.
