Manchester United Sunday night ended Manchester City’s winning series in the Premier League, with a 2-0 victory at Etihad – Manchester City home stadium.
Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty when Martial was tripped at the keeper’s box and Luke Shaw scored at the start of the second half to snap City’s run of 21 consecutive wins.
The result saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side chase Leicester into third place, possessing a different of 11 points behind the first position.
United have now gone 22 matches unbeaten away from home and it was also the first time they won a league game against the “Big Six” teams this season.
What seemed to be a negative point for United was when Marcus Rashford went off with an injury in the second half.
“When you come away with a 2-0 win and another clean sheet and a performance like this then you are delighted,” Solskjaer said in an interview. “Every game is different. We went back to be a little bit what we wanted to be and that’s being direct.”
The Sky Blues responded well and Oleksandr Zinchenko forced United’s goal keeper, Dean Henderson, into a good save after 24 minutes and the goalkeeper also denied Ilkay Gundogan moments later.
The Red Devils’ Henderson also tipped over Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick while Mahrez’s shot went just past the post on the stroke of half-time.
City went came close to an equaliser right after the break but Rodri’s strike clipped the top of the bar.
United grabbed a second goal moments later when Shaw started and finished a swift attack with a calm finish into the bottom corner.
The visitors almost scored a third after 68 minutes when Martial was through on goal but Ederson saved from close range.
Raheem Sterling was close to grabbing a goal late on but he failed to connect with Kyle Walker’s cross.
City pressed but United held on to keep their slim hopes of winning the title alive.
“Congratulations Manchester United first of all,” City boss Pep Guardiola said in an interview. “Against West Ham we played much, much worse than today. Against West Ham we didn’t deserve to win and maybe today we didn’t deserve to lose. We were not good in front of goal, our strikers were not brilliant today but it happens.”
Ifesinachi Nnabugwu reporting, Obinwannem News
