Man United 2-0 Man City: Bruno, McTominay made the difference

March 9, 2020 Contributing Editor European Leagues, Premier League
Man United 2-0 Man City Bruno, McTominay made the difference
Man United 2-0 Man City Bruno, McTominay made the difference

Manchester United beat the City rival 2-0 in the Premier league Derby at Old Trafford today. They were also a winner in the previous derby in December 2019, when they met at Etihad Stadium.

Manchester United vs Manchester City – Goals

  • Bruno Fernandez took a quick free-kick at left flank and 35 yards from goal and lobbed the ball to Anthony Martial, who in turn made a low shot at the right of Ederson. Manchester keeper was a little late to react, and Manchester United was up 1-0 on the half-hour.
  • During injury time, when it was moments from final whistle from the referee, Ederson threw a clearance straight to Scott McTominay, who send a long-range finish, struck first time, straight into the net.

What the Scoreboard won’t tell

  • For Manchester United, Bruno Fernandez and Scott McTominay, are two who made all the difference. The quick and intelligent free-kick by Bruno was deliciously executed, and McTominay’s goal at last moment of the match, with a one-touch shot, was pure joy to watch. No wonder Old Trafford crowd erupted after the two-goal lead at injury time.
  • Manchester City contested the free-kick, given by referee Mike Dean for a foul by Ilkay Gundogan on Fernandes, which led to Anthony Martial’s goal.
  • Manchester United should have got a penalty when Fred was booked for diving after tangling with Nicolas Otamendi. It looked like there was contact before Fred fell inside the box. 
  • Manchester City had 73% of ball possession, but they had less shot at opponent goal 7 (United shot 16) and four shots on target (United had seven shots on target)

Results and Records

  • It is a win that leaves Liverpool – who now have a 25-point lead at the top of the table – requiring only two more wins to secure their first league title for 30 years and Manchester United only three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, 
  • United are unbeaten in their last ten games (W7 D3); their longest run without defeat since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first 11 games in charge.
  • This is the second time in Pep Guardiola, as a manager, has suffered three defeats against the same opponent in a single season.
  • Anthony Martial is only the second United player (after Eric Cantona) to score in three consecutive Premier League starts in Manchester derbies, 
  • Bruno Fernandes is the player with most goal involvement with two goals and three assists since 1st February 2020.
  • Raheem Sterling became the fourth-youngest player to reach 250 appearances in the Premier League, after Wayne Rooney, James Milner and Gareth Barry.

Post Match

We played good, we missed a little in the final third but the second half was better and it was a good performance. We play the same way, tried the press and defend well and we did well. Our game is there, we played really good in terms of coming here. They wait and did long balls on the counter-attack for Daniel James and Anthony Martial. We did our game but unfortunately we conceded a goal. They waited for our mistakes.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City Manager

It’s a privilege to be their manager, They give absolutely everything. They know they are all good players but they want to learn as well. We feel we are improving as a squad and a team. We feel the fans want us to do well and they see what we are doing, so it is getting better and better. But we are still fifth. We need points to catch Chelsea and Leicester, so need to keep plugging away.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Manchester United Manager

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