agencies
London
Amad Diallo scored a 90th-minute winner as Manchester United came from behind to score two late goals in a 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
After City’s 2-0 defeat by Juventus in the Champions League earlier in the week, Pep Guardiola’s men were in need of a win to improve their torrid Premier League form.
Despite Josko Gvardiol claiming his fourth league goal of the season with a first-half header, Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty in the 88th minute and Diallo struck two minutes later to round off a derby day win for Ruben Amorim’s men.
Crystal Palace’s 3-1 victory over Brighton at the Amex Stadium saw them also claim a derby win on Sunday.
After Chelsea loanee Trevoh Chalobah bundled in Palace’s opener from a set-piece, Ismaila Sarr managed to bag a brace after the break to put the match beyond reach.
Marc Guehi’s own goal gave Brighton one back in the 87th minute but Palace held on as Oliver Glasner’s men extended their unbeaten run to five matches.
Amorim’s bravery pays off
United’s late win was something few – perhaps not even Amorim himself – saw coming as a game that had been so undistinguished appeared to be moving towards an uneventful conclusion.
And then, in a final few minutes totally out of keeping with the mediocre fare that had gone before, United gave Amorim a personal triumph that will instantly increase his standing among United’s supporters.
United had barely been troubled by Pep Guardiola’s off-colour Premier League champions, but had created little of the their own, that Fernandes chance apart, until the always lively Diallo took a hand.
He collected a poor pass from Nunes in the 88th minute, who then compounded his error by chasing back and flattening the United forward with a reckless challenge, allowing Fernandes to make up for his earlier miss.
Diallo then showed real composure in the final minute of normal time to squeeze in United’s winner from a title angle, Etihad Stadium stunned into silence apart from the ecstatic visiting fans.
Amorim took two big decisions to ditch Rashford and Garnacho from his squad completely, an early indicator that he will not shy away from difficult calls, no matter how big the profile of the player involved.
It had the desired impact, albeit late on, as United returned to winning ways in the most satisfying way possible after losing at Arsenal then at home to Nottingham Forest.
Man City’s crisis deepens
City continued their retreat into the dark shadows of their old glories as they snatched defeat from the brink of victory in the Manchester derby.
As he has in recent times, Guardiola cut an agitated, animated figure, even almost expressing his displeasure when City’s goal from Gvardiol’s header came after Kevin De Bruyne’s header had been deflected in the direction of the defender.
Guardiola was grateful for that advantage as the clock ticked down, only for City to engineer another damaging result with a late collapse as United sensed vulnerability in a side that has completely lost the aura of superiority that sustained them as they won an historic four straight Premier League titles.
City barely created any meaningful opportunities, Erling Haaland marginalised, the midfield lacking creation and captain Kyle Walker embarrassing himself when he needlessly collapsed to the floor in dramatic fashion in a tame head-to-head with United striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Premier League
Sunday ResultscColor:>
Brighton 1 Crystal Palace 3
Man City 1 Man United 2.
