Manchester City will have to wait to clinch the Premier League title after capitulating and allowing Manchester United to secure a remarkable 3-2 comeback derby win.
It has long been a case of when rather than if Pep Guardiola’s swashbuckling side win the league, but this was what Vincent Kompany described as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to seal it on home turf against their bitter rivals.
The City captain opened the deadlock and Ilkay Gundogan added another in a first-half far more one-sided than the two-goal advantage suggested.
Tweet of the match
Blue hair, red hero ?? pic.twitter.com/PhUUDj4EJO
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2018
Star man – Paul Pogba
Moment of the match
69′ – GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!! City 2 #MUFC 3. YES @ChrisSmalling!!! pic.twitter.com/YrJRYFdrou
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 7, 2018
Chris Smalling has long been touted as potential departure as Mourinho looks to take United back to the top of the English game. Terrible marking for Vincent Kompany’s opener only strengthened the doubters’ case, but if this is to be the defender’s last Manchester derby he signed off in style by firing home a volley to secure victory.
Stat of the match
2008 – Manchester City have lost a Premier League game in which they were 2+ goals ahead for the first time since October 2008 vs Liverpool (2-3). Capitulate. pic.twitter.com/Bqlr2BiHeW
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 7, 2018
Ratings
Manchester City: Ederson Moraes 6, Danilo 6, Vincent Kompany 6, Nicolas Otamendi 5, Fabian Delph 5, Ilkay Gundogan 7, Fernandinho 6, David Silva 7, Bernardo Silva 6, Raheem Sterling 7, Leroy Sane 6. Subs: Kevin De Bruyne, (on for David Silva, 72) 6, Gabriel Jesus (on for Bernardo Silva, 72) 6, Sergio Aguero (on for Gundogan 76) 6.
Manchester United: David De Gea 6, Antonio Valencia 6, Eric Bailly 6, Chris Smalling 7, Ashley Young 6, Ander Herrera 6, Nemanja Matic 6, Paul Pogba 8, Jesse Lingard 6, Alexis Sanchez 7, Romelu Lukaku 7. Subs: Marcus Rashford (on for Sanchez 82) 6, Scott McTominay (on for Lingard 85) 6, Victor Lindelof (on for Herrera 90) 6.
What’s up next?
Manchester City v Liverpool (Champions League quarter-final second leg, Tuesday 10 April)
Manchester United v West Brom (Premier League, Sunday 15 April)
