Haaland fires 10-man Man City to memorable win over Man Utd

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Erling Haaland fired 10-man Manchester City to a memorable 1-0 victory over Manchester United despite Phil Foden’s first-half red card to extend a perfect start to Enzo Maresca’s reign.

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Foden kicked out at United captain Bruno Fernandes on 23 minutes to give the visitors a mountain to climb.

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But a new-look City were up to the challenge as the near £250 million ($340 million) midfield pairing of Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez proved their worth.

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Haaland’s winner was laced with controversy as Fernandez was deemed not to be interfering with play when he attempted to head in before the ball reached the Norwegian.

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Defeat compounds a miserable Premier League start for United as they are already eight points adrift of City and defending champions Arsenal.

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By contrast, victory was a huge statement for Maresca to quell fears of a major drop-off from City following Pep Guardiola’s trophy-laden decade in charge.

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A fervent pre-match atmosphere was fuelled just as much by United fans’ anger towards their own club as it was by the usual animosity between the supporters.

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A crackdown on ticket touting in recent months has resulted in widespread condemnation from supporters’ groups after many innocent people faced the threat of sanction.

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A normal array of banners and flags in the Stretford End was replaced by just one bearing the message: “The way you treat us is a disgrace.”

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The visitors had made the better start in the opening quarter but looked to have been completely undone by Foden’s ill discipline.

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City will argue Fernandes should also have seen red as he fouled Foden and then kicked him in the back.

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But there was little case for Foden’s defence as he retaliated by throwing both legs up into Fernandes’s midriff.

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Kobbie Mainoo blocked Rayan Cherki’s goalbound effort before Youri Tielemans nearly sliced Antoine Semenyo’s cross into his own net as City continued to be the more threatening side.

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Marcus Rashford was inches away from his first United goal since December 2024 when his free-kick came crashing back off the post with United’s best effort before the break.

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– Donnarumma to the rescue –

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The woodwork came to City’s rescue again just after half-time when Mainoo curled onto the post from distance, and the ball rebounded kindly into Gianluigi Donnarumma’s grasp.

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But the City sucker punch arrived on the hour mark.

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Haaland adjusted his body brilliantly to sweep in Josko Gvardiol’s deflected cross.

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A VAR review deemed Haaland was onside and that Fernandez was not interfering as he stooped to try and head it in himself.

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City came close to landing the telling blow when Fernandez’s effort was turned onto the post by Senne Lammens.

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Haaland also should have had a second when he got onto Fernandez’s wicked low free-kick delivery.

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City, though, were not made to pay for failing to add a second as United lacked the composure and quality to make the man advantage count until the final minute of stoppage time.

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Fernandes’s reverse ball perfectly picked out Bryan Mbeumo, but he was denied by a fine save from Donnarumma.

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Maresca scampered down the touchline in delight at full-time.

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After a battle for the title went down to the final week of last season, Arsenal and City look a class apart from the competition once more.

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Both are locked on 12 points with Chelsea, Liverpool and United already cut adrift.

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AFP

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