MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Amad Diallo struck a 90th-minute winner as Manchester United staged a stunning late comeback to beat Manchester City 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday. Four-time defending champion City led the Manchester derby 1-0 going to the 88th minute at the Etihad Stadium. But the game turned around dramatically as Bruno Fernandes leveled from the penalty spot, and Diallo sealed victory for United — prompting head coach Ruben Amorim to declare, “something magic happened.”
“It was a very tough match but we believed until the end. We managed to score. We needed this win. It was important for us and for our fans,” Amorim noted after the match.
City fans jeered at the final whistle as their once-dominant team’s woeful run of form extended to one win and eight losses in their last 11 games. Guardiola, who seemed dejected, stated, “I’m the boss, I’m the manager and I’m not good enough. It’s as simple asthat.”
This victory marks the first derby win for United under their new head coach Ruben Amorim, who previously led Sporting Lisbon to victory against City. For much of the match, it seemed like United was on course for their third straight league loss after Josko Gvardiol’s goal gave City the early lead with a well-placed header in the 36th minute. Fernandes had previously missed the target when through on goal during the second half, and needed to find the back of the net again for United to regain hope.
With just minutes left on the clock, Diallo made his mark. He chased after an underhit backpass from Matheus Nunes, only to be brought down by the City player inside the box. Referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the penalty spot, leading to Fernandes’s successful conversion. He sent Ederson the wrong way, and joy erupted from the United fans who had watched their team struggle for much of the match.
It didn’t end there for United. Just moments after the penalty, Diallo showcased impeccable skill as he collected a long pass from Lisandro Martinez. He flicked the ball high and past Ederson before rolling it home from a tight angle, much to the delight of traveling United supporters.
“We have plenty to do, but it was massive for our fans,” Amorim explained, reflecting on the importance of the victory not just for points, but for morale.
Currently, United sits at 13th place, five points adrift of fifth-place City, whose title defense continues to unravel amid their losing streak. Guardiola recognized the gravity of the situation, commenting, “This is a big club, and when you lose eight out of ten games, then something wrong is happening.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea managed to close the gap on Liverpool to two points after their recent win against Brentford, marking their seventh straight victory across all competitions. Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella opened the scoring and Nicolas Jackson followed suit to maintain momentum for Chelsea, presently four points above third-place Arsenal. Meanwhile, Southampton parted ways with manager Russell Martin after suffering defeat to Tottenham, remaining firmly entrenched at the bottom of the table.
Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr also made headlines with two goals against Brighton, leading his side to victory and providing necessary breathing room from the relegation zone.
Overall, the Manchester derby proved to be thrilling yet filled with tactical struggle, emotional highs, and lows for fans on both sides. For United, it serves as pivotal momentum as they claw their way back up the table, striving to reclaim the glory for which they are known.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
