Phil Foden’s Heroics Propel Manchester City to 3-1 Victory Over Manchester United
Manchester City staged a remarkable comeback against Manchester United, with Phil Foden shining bright in a thrilling 3-1 victory.
In stoppage time, Erling Haaland added another goal to ensure that the title race remained evenly balanced before City’s trip to Liverpool the following weekend.
At the Etihad, Marcus Rashford‘s incredible goal gave United a startling lead.
Just before halftime, Haaland made a mistake that will go down in Premier League history when he missed an open goal. With ten minutes remaining, Foden finished coolly to guarantee that City did not lose the championship match. He had opened the score with a rocket into the top corner.
To make up for his earlier miss, Haaland then scored his sixth goal in four Premier League derbies against United.
With 11 games left, Erik ten Hag’s team is 11 points outside of the top four after suffering United’s 11th league loss of the year.
The former Ajax manager, who felt Rashford had been fouled seconds earlier at the other end, was incensed that City’s equalizer was allowed to stand.
But after being utterly outclassed by their opponents for nearly the whole game, United could reasonably have few grievances.
This week, Rashford responded to those who questioned his devotion by going back on them.
For the majority of this season, the England international has been a shadow of the forward who scored 30 goals the previous year, but he gave a taste of his potential when he opened the score on the eight minute mark.
Bruno Fernandes layed the ball back for Rashford to smash home a spectacular long-range shot off the underside of the bar after City unsuccessfully appealed for an offside flag against him.
From then on, Pep Guardiola’s team was in complete control, but Andre Onana’s excellent goalkeeping and some careless finishing kept them at bay for almost sixty minutes.
The Cameroonian stopped Foden clean twice when he was clear through, and he also denied Rodri with a deft stop low to his left.
Rashford, on the other hand, had a chance to extend United’s lead before halftime.
Ruben Dias slipped, allowing Rashford to go past cleanly, but Kyle Walker raced back and scored.
Only because of an incident that will be remembered for years to come did United’s lead hold up until halftime.
When Foden headed Rodri’s cross back across goal, City finally tore apart the massive ranks of the other team’s defense, inviting Haaland to add the finishing touch.
But he miraculously turned the ball over, leaving the goal open from close range.
The Red Devils’ last-ditch effort was ultimately undone when Foden equaled Rashford’s goal in the first half.
Ten Hag was incensed that Rashford had not been given a foul at the other end, but it seemed like Walker’s collision sent him to the ground too quickly. Foden was singled out by Rodri, who cut inside and fired a hard shot into the upper corner.
Julian Alvarez and Foden executed a brilliant one-two to break the United defense and score the game’s winning goal, Foden’s 18th of the year.
The English champs had a great afternoon, capped up with Haaland’s comeback.
Rodri took Sofyan Amrabat’s belongings and prepared the Norwegian to curl past Onana.
