Manchester is red this Christmas

Manchester City 1 - 2 Manchester United

Manchester United delivered a sensational late comeback to snatch victory from Manchester City in a dramatic derby at the Etihad Stadium.

Author - Olivia T

City had looked set for the win after Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header, but United turned the game on its head in the dying moments, securing a crucial early triumph for new manager Ruben Amorim.

The standout performer was Amad Diallo, who won an 88th-minute penalty after being brought down by Matheus Nunes. Bruno Fernandes coolly converted to level the score. Moments later, Diallo capitalised again, slotting home from a tight angle to complete the turnaround.

It was a game of few clear chances, with both sides struggling to create much of note. United appeared to have squandered their best opportunity to equalise when Fernandes, put through by Rasmus Højlund, chipped Ederson but missed the target with 17 minutes remaining.

However, the match erupted in the final moments, leaving City’s fans frustrated and jeering, while United’s supporters celebrated wildly in their corner of the stadium.

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A closer look at a dramatic afternoon in Manchester

The dramatic win was as surprising as it was thrilling. For much of the match, the game had been a scrappy and uninspired affair, seemingly destined for an uneventful conclusion.

Then, United’s late surge changed everything. Ruben Amorim, still in the early days of his tenure, will cherish this victory as a key milestone in earning the trust and admiration of the club’s fans.

City, uncharacteristically lacklustre under Pep Guardiola, failed to truly test United’s defence. Despite their subdued display, United had struggled to create chances themselves, aside from Fernandes’ earlier miss.

But Diallo’s energy and determination made the difference. Seizing on a wayward pass from Nunes, he drew a rash foul from the City midfielder to earn the crucial penalty. Not content with that, Diallo then showed remarkable composure to squeeze in the winner, silencing the home crowd and sending the travelling fans into raptures.

It was a derby that may have lacked quality for much of the game, but its unforgettable finale will live long in the memory of United fans.

Manchester is redhttps://t.co/dZWxytWuxShttps://t.co/YF9VZNmOqt

— Super Reds News (@GMCRFootball158) December 15, 2024

Macca's view. City fans left frustrated again.

Macca, the resident City fan of European Super Football, told us: "Ultimately, we deserved what happened. At this level a game or two is unlucky. We can't say this is lucky or unlucky, after ten poor games, it's not about that.

"When it's the 87th, minute in a derby, winning 1-0 and a City corner ends in a penalty for them, that shows something is seriously wrong. If we make these stupid decisions with three or four minutes to go you deserve to pay for that. Looking at the game as a whole, we didn't create enough chances.

"We have to now start looking towards January. I'd argue that some new signings could help us overcome this slump. Players are coming to the end of their time with us now and we need to bring in world class replacements or we could quickly fall further behind."

This was the view of the Man City manager.

PEP 💬 We can't defend that. It's not about this or that player. We gave away goals, our fault. We don't play with composure. The results are not good, the game was not exceptional. I know the situation, I understand but the reality is this... We have to play better. The result… pic.twitter.com/1gyi8MyXPm

— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 15, 2024

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