Two targets from Erling Haaland helped Manchester Metropolis overpower native rivals Manchester United and transfer as much as third within the Premier League with a complete 3-0 victory at Previous Trafford on Sunday.
The Norwegian striker transformed a considerably harsh penalty referred to as in opposition to Rasmus Hojlund earlier than heading in his second within the forty ninth minute.
Haaland was readily available to help Phil Foden for a tap-in to wrap up the factors in one other one-sided Manchester derby win.
How the sport unfolded
Tributes had been paid to the late Sir Bobby Charlton earlier than kick-off, with a shawl draped over his seat within the administrators’ field. A banner hoisted aloft by the house crowd additionally learn: ‘Sir Bobby Charlton. The best English footballer the world has ever seen.’
The mourning of one of many membership’s greatest-ever gamers multiplied the fervent environment inside Previous Trafford as United made a quick begin upon referee Paul Tierney’s whistle, avoiding falling behind inside 12 seconds like they did within the FA Cup ultimate final season.
The purpose menace of Scott McTominay noticed the Scotland worldwide pushed into a complicated midfield function and he instantly crafted an opportunity to plough ahead, simply getting the ball caught below his toes as he scuffed an effort into Ederson’s gloves.
Metropolis by some means did not take the lead within the eighth minute when Phil Foden’s header prompted Andre Onana to palm the ball into the air. Haaland appeared set to show the rebound dwelling however Onana by some means snatched the ball off the Norwegian’s toes earlier than Harry Maguire cleared to security.
Marcus Rashford’s low confidence was evident when he picked up Hojlund’s cross in house on the left however the England worldwide paused for too lengthy as City regrouped and snuffed the assault out.
Metropolis settled into their rhythm as midfield stars Rodri and Bernardo Silva began selecting out gamers in house with ease, and whereas the guests had been dominant in open play, it was from a free-kick into the field which earned Pep Guardiola’s facet the prospect to go forward.
Referee Tierney was pulled throughout to the pitchside monitor by VAR official Michael Oliver and adjudged Hojlund to have held Rodri again earlier than the Spaniard hit the deck.
The choice was lamented as smooth by these of a United persuasion – specifically Gary Neville on Sky Sports activities commentary – nevertheless it meant little to Haaland, who rolled his penalty into one nook as Onana dived in the wrong way and celebrated with gusto.
It was in no way a faultless efficiency from Metropolis. Phil Foden unusually performed Hojlund in on purpose with an errant cross, however the Danish striker could not shake off John Stones and different Metropolis gamers scampering again after rounding Ederson earlier than Bruno Fernandes shanked vast.
Ederson was then required to maintain out McTominay’s candy half-volley with an instinctive cease in first-half stoppage time, however the Brazilian was arguably one-upped by counterpart Onana when the Cameroonian acrobatically jumped throughout his line to maintain out a agency Haaland header.
These goalkeeping heroics stored United’s deficit at one purpose on the break, however their possibilities of Manchester derby victory weakened when Haaland scored one other.
Metropolis accelerated by way of the gears with good interaction between the likes of Rodri, Julian Alvarez and Jack Grealish, the latter of whom laid the ball off for the onrushing Silva to cross in the direction of the again put up.
In an analogous place to the place he was denied earlier than half-time, Haaland rose highest in acres of house and planted his header previous the determined Onana.
Metropolis’s attacking soccer grew to become an increasing number of pleasing to observe because the second half wore on, with solely the saves of Onana from the likes of Grealish, Silva and Haaland retaining the scoreline considerably respectable.
All United hope was misplaced when the third purpose went in. A pile-driver from Rodri was palmed out vast to Haaland, who picked out Foden to transform from shut vary.
United’s self-discipline fell off in the direction of full time as gamers like Fernandes and substitute Antony began appearing out petulantly. Each obtained yellow playing cards to prime off a somewhat pathetic outing from the hosts, not helped by the medical and purring nature of Metropolis’s efficiency.
GK: Andre Onana – 7/10 – Great sprawling save restricted Metropolis’s benefit earlier than half-time. The one United participant who can maintain their head excessive having made seven first rate saves.
RB: Diogo Dalot – 4/10 – Broke ahead after the interval and his facet had been punished for it, Metropolis’s second coming after slicing by way of the fitting facet of United’s defence.
CB: Harry Maguire – 5/10 – Typically the participant clearing United’s strains.
CB: Jonny Evans – 5/10 – Received lured in by Rodri to go away Haaland free on the again put up for Metropolis’s second.
LB: Victor Lindelof – 4/10 – Could not prohibit Foden’s involvement or rush him into any errors.
CM: Christian Eriksen – 2/10 – Given little or no alternative to affect the sport in the way in which he’s famed for. His passing and distribution, traits thought of his strengths, had been poor and was bodily no match for Rodri.
CM: Sofyan Amrabat – 4/10 – Made a few tackles and confirmed some combat throughout an altercation with Foden, however that was pretty much as good because it received for the Moroccan. Subbed at half-time.
RW: Bruno Fernandes – 2/10 – Tried a couple of Hail Mary passes ahead however could not present his greatest, being largely frozen out in a large function. Began behaving like a brat in the direction of full-time, like he has finished beforehand.
AM: Scott McTominay – 5/10 – Gave United a extra direct menace of their greatest attacking moments. Dropped a bit deeper upon Mount’s introduction and had bother taking part in out of Metropolis’s press.
LW: Marcus Rashford – 2/10 – Had a couple of alternatives to run on the break however simply appeared so bereft of confidence. Received on the tip of an Eriksen ping however could not squeeze his end in.
ST: Rasmus Hojlund – 4/10 – Will really feel laborious finished by for being penalised for holding Rodri and was a little bit too uncooked when he received his moments to shine.
Substitutes
SUB: Mason Mount (46′ for Amrabat) – 4/10 – Barely concerned.
SUB: Alejandro Garnacho (74′ for Hojlund) – 5/10
SUB: Sergio Reguilon (74′ for Lindelof) – 5/10
SUB: Antony (86′ for Eriksen) – N/A
SUB: Anthony Martial (86′ for Rashford) – N/A
Subs not used: Altay Bayindir, Raphael Varane, Hannibal Mejbri, Kobbie Mainoo.
Supervisor
Erik ten Hag – 3/10 – Made some fascinating pre-match tactical choices that didn’t repay in any respect. Simply couldn’t squeeze a efficiency out of his facet within the face of such high quality.
GK: Ederson – 7/10 – Nice reflexes stored out McTominay’s strike and did sufficient to power Hojlund vast when the striker charged ahead.
CB: Kyle Walker – 8/10 – So usually readily available to mop up free possession and distribute it elsewhere, usually into the ultimate third. Had little bother retaining the out-of-form Rashford quiet.
CB: Ruben Dias – 6/10 – Not excellent, with Hojlund giving the Portugal worldwide one thing to consider every so often, however his job was made simpler by Metropolis’s basic domination.
CB: Josko Gvardiol – 7/10 – Wasn’t threatened by any runs in behind him, not often giving Fernandes a sniff.
CM: Rodri – 8/10 – Whipped out his darkish arts mastery at occasions, benefiting from Hojlund’s tug to get Metropolis their penalty. Had an excessive amount of class and energy to be stopped by United, with Eriksen proving no match.
CM: John Stones – 7/10 – Some wonderful defensive actions, together with snuffing out a harmful Hojlund breakaway. Created a joint-game excessive of three possibilities.
RW: Phil Foden – 8/10 – Engaged in some risky theatrics with Amrabat however that did not cease linking up properly together with his co-attackers earlier than getting on the scoresheet with a tap-in.
AM: Julian Alvarez – 7/10 – Examined Onana with a free kick and, whereas his different strikes at purpose did not show too harmful, helped knit Metropolis’s attacking play collectively.
AM: Bernardo Silva – 9/10 – Gifted loads of time with United’s urgent midfielders off the tempo with Metropolis created house everywhere in the pitch. Teed up Haaland’s second with a pinpoint clipped cross and was fantastic to observe.
LW: Jack Grealish – 7/10 – Persistently eager to run at Dalot out vast and his dribbling created possibilities for Metropolis. Additionally performed a stunning function within the second purpose.
ST: Erling Haaland – 8/10 – Become the derby day purpose machine Metropolis wanted on Sunday, rolling in his penalty and heading in unmarked. Performed it sq. to Foden to make it 3-0 and wrap up the factors.
Substitutes
SUB: Jeremy Doku (87′ for Grealish) – N/A
SUB: Mateo Kovacic (87′ for Alvarez) – N/A
Subs not used: Oscar Bobb, Kalvin Phillips, Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis, Nathan Ake, Sergio Gomez, Stefan Ortega.
Supervisor
Pep Guardiola – 7/10 – Did not have to tug out any wild tactical considering; his facet had been just too good for his or her hosts and Metropolis by no means appeared in any type of hazard, even with a barely sluggish begin.
