Manchester United delivered a crushing blow to Premier League champion Manchester City on Sunday, snatching a 2-1 victory in the dying minutes of a tense derby at the Etihad Stadium. Late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo transformed a seemingly inevitable defeat into a stunning triumph, intensifying the woes of a faltering City side.
City appeared to be cruising toward a narrow victory after Josko Gvardiol’s 36th-minute header, capitalizing on United’s season-long vulnerability to corners.
Ruben Amorim’s United struggled to make any impact for much of the match, failing to register a single shot on target before halftime. However, a pair of dramatic late moments turned the game on its head.
The turning point came in the 88th minute when City’s Matheus Nunes made a critical error with a wayward back pass. Diallo pounced on the mistake and was brought down by Nunes, earning United a penalty. Fernandes coolly converted from the spot, bringing the game level and silencing the home crowd.
Before City could regroup, United struck again. In the 90th minute, Diallo produced a moment of magic, squeezing a shot past Ederson from a seemingly impossible angle, sending the visiting fans into raptures.
City, now winless in 10 of its last 11 games across all competitions, remains fifth in the Premier League standings. United’s much-needed win lifts it to 12th, providing some relief after a rocky start under Amorim.
Neither side entered the game with confidence, and the first half reflected that. City’s Phil Foden came closest early on with a half-volley that drifted wide, while Diallo’s attempt for United hit the post but was ruled offside.
United manager Ruben Amorim made bold decisions, notably excluding Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from the squad. He was forced into an early adjustment when Mason Mount was injured in the 14th minute, replaced by young Kobbie Mainoo.
City eventually broke the deadlock through Gvardiol, whose header punished United’s defensive frailties from set pieces. Tempers flared minutes later when Kyle Walker and Rasmus Hojlund clashed, resulting in yellow cards for both players after a heated melee.
United improved after the break, though Fernandes missed a golden chance to equalize when his attempted chip drifted wide. City, meanwhile, failed to register a shot on target in the second half, a reflection of its declining form.
The match reached its dramatic conclusion in the final minutes, with Fernandes and Diallo delivering the decisive blows. United fans will savour this remarkable turnaround, while City faces mounting pressure to reverse its poor run of results.
For Amorim, his first Manchester derby ends in triumph, a result that could serve as a springboard for the remainder of the season. For City, however, the road ahead looks increasingly uncertain.
