Rashford’s goal seals derby comeback

• Manchester United fought back to defeat Manchester City in the Manchester derby.
• Goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes handed Manchester United the win.
• The win puts United third on the table, just a point away from their neighbours Manchester City.

Manchester United fought back to defeat Manchester City in the Manchester derby, thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.

City took the lead through Jack Grealish but was thwarted by a tenacious United side that refused to give up.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes handed Manchester United a comeback win over Manchester City in the Manchester Derby as they won 2-1.

How the game unfolded

Jack Grealish headed in from a De Bruyne cross.|PHOTO: SkySports|

Guardiola had reprimanded his team for losing focus against lesser sides this season following recent slip-ups against Southampton, Everton, and Brentford. Still, City once again lacked in sharpness against their arch-rivals on the big stage on Saturday.

City had nearly 69% possession in the first half but struggled to get the ball to Haaland, who could have tested makeshift centre-back, Luke Shaw.

Manchester United outmuscled Pep Guardiola’s team in the first half and created numerous chances, with Bruno Fernandes scoring the game’s first goal in the 11th minute. The United captain, on the other hand, would miss wide.

As City struggled to get the ball to Erling Haaland early on, and the Norwegian cut a frustrated figure, Fred was tasked with marking De Bruyne, and he did it brilliantly.

Malacia half-cleared Cancelo’s ball into the box in the 22nd minute, giving him a chance. Casemiro, however, blocked the shot to keep the score even.

The game remained even until the 34th minute when Ederson almost cost his team with a miscalculation. The Brazilian raced off his line to clear a ball, but Rashford was through with no one on the line. The England forward’s shot was deflected off the line by Akanji.

With new loan signing Wout Weghorst watching but unable to play, Antony came on at half-time for Anthony Martial, who appeared to pick up a knock. Still, a City substitution proved decisive, with Grealish making his way into the field for Foden.

The move immediately paid off, as the England playmaker headed in from close range to give City the lead in the 60th minute.

The comeback.

Bruno Fernandes scores amid offside controversy.|PHOTO: Sky Sports|

United had a mountain to climb, but they put pressure on City’s box and brought Alejandro Garnacho. Then, in a controversial move, United levelled the playing field.

Casemiro’s pass was intended for Rashford, but he didn’t touch it, and Fernandes scored to tie the game at one. Despite City’s protests, the goal frustrated the City players, but VAR judged Rashford hadn’t touched the ball or impacted the City defence to be offside.

The game was turned on its head in the 82nd minute when Garnacho fed a ball into the box, where Rashford made no mistake and made it 2-1.

City applied intense pressure to the United box, but it was in vain as the hosts held on and won, moving them one point behind Guardiola’s side in the table.

Ten Hag thoughts.

Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag: “We’ve improved; that’s obvious. A lot of aspects in our game we have to improve, but we’re progressing, that’s quite obvious.”

“The fans may dream [of the title] but we’re not. We have to keep our feet on the ground and face that in our game [we have] a lot to improve”