Man United 2-1 Man City (December 15, 2024) Match analysis

Manchester United added more worry to struggling Premier League champions Manchester City as late goals from Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo rescued an unlikely 2-1 away win from the jaws of defeat on Sunday.

Ruben Amorim’s side were on the verge of their third league defeat in a row when they fell behind to Josko Gvardiol’s header.

But a laborious derby lacking in quality had a stunning late twist when a mistake from Matheus Nunes led to a penalty, giving Fernandes the chance to equalize from the spot in the 88th minute.

City had barely gotten over the shock when Diallo sent the away fans delirious seconds later with a superb finish from a tight angle.

City have won just once in 11 games in all competitions and remain fifth in the table. United move up to 12th place.

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After dismal recent results, neither team started the game fluently and United did not have a shot on goal before half-time.

United coach Amorim flexed his muscles ahead of his first Manchester derby, leaving Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho out of his matchday squad and then having to make an early change when Mason Mount limped off after 14 minutes and was replaced by Kobbie Mainoo.

It took 20 minutes for City to get a shot on target when Phil Foden’s half-volley went wide. At the other end, Diallo hit the outside post with a shot, but was still offside.

City’s fans were starting to get restless, but the tension at the Etihad Stadium increased in the 36th minute when De Bruyne’s cross from a short corner was deflected in and Gvardiol headed the ball past André Onana into the goal.

It was the eighth goal United have conceded from a corner this season, a figure only bettered by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Tempers soon boiled over as City’s Kyle Walker and Rasmus Højlund came together like two stags in heat and Walker theatrically fell to the ground, earning yellow cards for both players after a scuffle with several other players.

United stayed in the game in the second half and should have equalized when Fernandes was sent on goal, but his buried finish went agonizingly wide.

City couldn’t even get a shot on goal after the break and were devastated as the world collapsed around them.

Nunes’ terrible back pass was picked up by Diallo and he compounded the mistake by knocking down the United player.

Fernandes converted the penalty but worse was to come for the hosts as Diallo scored the winner.