Match report: City 1 United 2

Ruben Amorim’s first Manchester derby ended in a sweet success as United produced a stunning late comeback to beat City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Josko Gvardiol headed City in front during a tight first half in the 195th confrontation between the fierce local rivals.

It looked like it was going to end in disappointment for the Reds before the closing stages, when Amad earned a penalty, which Bruno Fernandes coolly converted, and then netted a 90th-minute winner himself. 

The victory - our first away at City since 2021 - means Amorim has got the better of Pep Guardiola for the second time in as many months - after guiding his former club Sporting to a 4-1 win over City in the Champions League.

Ruben made four changes from Thursday night’s Europa League victory away to Viktoria Plzen as Harry Maguire (making his 250th Premier League appearance), Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount and Rasmus Hojlund came into the team, with Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho not in the squad.

FIRST HALF - CITY EDGE AHEAD

Against the backdrop of the usual electric derby atmosphere, there was a high intensity to the opening exchanges from both teams, who were keen to flex their muscles from the outset.

The Reds were dealt an early blow when Mount was forced off after just 14 minutes, much to his evident disappointment, after dropping to the ground with an injury complaint. He was replaced by local lad Kobbie Mainoo - who netted the decisive goal against City in last season’s Emirates FA Cup final.

Having primarily played in a back three to date under Amorim, Noussair Mazraoui - one of three Manchester derby debutants in the starting XI alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte - operated as a right wing-back and his energy was key to neutralising the threat of Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes down City’s left.

Chances were few and far between as it took 20 minutes for the first notable effort at goal, Phil Foden volleying inches wide for City after Doku’s cross was headed away to the edge of the area by Diogo Dalot. Soon after, Ruben Dias rose highest from Foden’s corner but his header sailed harmlessly over.

At the other end, Amad - playing more advanced down the right wing again - screwed an effort wide when found in space by Ugarte’s incisive pass, but his blushes were spared by the raising of the assistant referee’s flag for offside. Ugarte then fired off target from distance after Lisandro Martinez’s effort pinged off Kyle Walker, following a promising move, again involving Amad.

But just as United were hinting at offering more threat, City took the lead in the 37th minute when Gvardiol climbed inside the box to plant a header past Andre Onana from a Kevin De Bruyne cross which looped into the area, off Amad as he challenged the Belgium international.

It wouldn’t be a derby without a flashpoint, which led to Hojlund and Walker being booked after the City captain had fouled our no.11, as tempers threatened to spill over, the England man clearly making a meal of things in a bid to get the Dane into trouble.

The Reds survived a scare just before the interval when Foden’s shot deflected off Maguire and forced Onana to tip around the post, as Amorim had plenty to ponder heading back into the dressing room.

SECOND HALF - DRAMATIC TURNAROUND WINS IT FOR UNITED

Continuously urged forward by Amorim from his technical area, the Reds started positively after the break, remaining patient in possession but with a much-needed increase in tempo.

Just after the hour mark, Fernandes delivered a curling cross which was glanced on by the head of Amad, drawing an important save around the post from Ederson.

The Reds looked to referee Anthony Taylor when Hojlund controlled the ball superbly inside the area and went to ground under contact from Ruben Dias but no VAR intervention, or penalty award, was forthcoming. The Premier League Match Centre confirmed it was checked by the VAR, Jarred Gillett, but deemed to be "normal contact".

At the other end, De Bruyne rifled a shot off target from outside the box, moments before making way for the returning Mateo Kovacic.

It looked like United’s moment was going to come in the 74th minute when Hojlund played in Fernandes, who sat Ederson down but his clipped effort dropped agonisingly inches wide of the post.

Amorim introduced two more Manchester derby debutants in Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, as well as Antony, in place of De Ligt, Hojlund and Mazraoui in a bid to inject fresh impetus.

The changes reaped their rewards as we drew level, with five minutes to go, when the lively Amad latched on to a careless back pass from Nunes, who in his attempt to get back clearly caught our no.16 and the referee pointed to the spot - much to Guardiola’s anguish on the touchline.

Fernandes stepped up to calmly Ederson and send the travelling United fans into raptures - and it got even better for the Reds just two minutes later in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Amad, recovering from the knock sustained from the penalty incident, was picked out by Martinez and took a glorious first touch to take it away from the advancing Ederson and slot into the far corner from a tight angle, to leave City stunned and complete a remarkable turnaround to earn United a victory to savour.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Sunday’s game was the fifth of nine matches across three different competitions for the Reds during a busy December. Amorim’s troops return to action in north London on Thursday evening for another tough assignment against Tottenham Hotspur, as we bid to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup - a competition we won in 2022/23.

MATCH DETAILS

City: Ederson; Walker (c), Ruben Dias, Gvardiol, Nunes; Gundogan (Savinho 89); Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne (Kovacic 68), Foden, Doku (Grealish 77); Haaland.

Subs not used: Ortega, Simpson-Pusey, Stones, O’Reilly, Mubama, McAtee.

Goals: Gvardiol 37.

Booked: Walker.

United: Onana; De Ligt (Yoro 79), Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui (Antony 78), Fernandes (c), Ugarte, Dalot; Amad (Lindelof 90+1), Hojlund (Zirkzee 78), Mount (Mainoo 14).

Subs not used: Bayindir, Malacia, Casemiro, Eriksen.

Goals: Fernandes 88 (pen), Amad 90.

Booked: Hojlund.

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