Izuchukwu OkosiSunday’s Manchester derby was almost one-sided but for a few bright spots from Manchester United as the treble winners from last season, City romped to a 3-0 win over United at Old Trafford.
City’s Erling Haaland scored his first two goals at Old Trafford as they ran Manchester United ragged in a 3-0 win.
Pep Guardiola’s treble winners are third in the standings on 24 points after 10 games, two points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, United, whose defeat was their first in four games in all competitions, are eighth with 15 points.
United have lost six of the last eight matches against their local rivals, including a 2-1 FA Cup final defeat in City’s treble campaign last term to match United’s 1999 achievement.
“Amazing. A fantastic win and the game was incredible and the team, everything,” said Haaland.
“It is definitely one of the best wins,” added midfielder Bernardo Silva. “To win 3-0 away with this crowd, I think it is definitely one of the best performances.”
Haaland, whose 11 league goals this season equals United’s total goal output, converted a penalty in the 26th minute when VAR showed Rasmus Hojlund had pulled down Rodri at a free kick.
The Norway striker calmly slotted the spot kick into the bottom right corner with what was remarkably City’s first penalty awarded in 27 Premier League trips to Old Trafford.
City, who had lost their previous two league games on the road, dominated shell-shocked United in the second half.
An unmarked Haaland netted again shortly after halftime when Bernardo Silva overlapped and then dinked a pass to the back post that the rising Norwegian headed home.
Phil Foden added the third from close range in the 80th after goalkeeper Andre Onana pushed away a shot from Rodri that landed at the feet of Haaland for an easy cross to Foden. The goal sent many frustrated United fans to the exits early.
“The first half we played very good, we defended very well,” said United manager Erik ten Hag.
“We had good breaks, good opportunities but we could have taken more benefit. Then the penalty changes the game.”
Hojlund had a terrific chance to make amends for his costly foul in a first-half breakaway but the 20-year-old was jostled off the ball. United midfielder Scott McTominay’s shot late in the first half was then punched over the bar by Ederson.
But City had numerous near misses of their own, including a header by Haaland that Onana saved just before the interval.
City crushed Erik ten Hag’s visiting United side 6-3 at home last season but lost 2-1 at Old Trafford so Guardiola will be delighted that they came away with all three points this time.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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