Foden double inspires Man City to derby day fightback over Man United
Manchester City's Erling Haaland (L) celebrates with team mates Bernardo Silva (C) and Phil Foden (R) after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on March 3, 2024. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)
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Phil Foden scored twice as Manchester City came from behind
to beat Manchester United 3-1 on Sunday and close to within one point of
Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Erling Haaland also struck in stoppage time to leave the
title race perfectly poised ahead of City's trip to Liverpool next weekend.
Marcus Rashford's wonder strike had fired United into a shock
lead at the Etihad.
Haaland was then guilty of a miss that will go down in
Premier League folklore when he fired over with an open goal just before
half-time.
Foden ensured City did not slip up in the title race as he
blasted into the top corner to level and produced a composed finish 10 minutes
from time.
Haaland then rolled in his sixth goal in four Premier League
derbies against United to atone for his earlier miss.
An 11th league defeat of the season for United leaves Erik
Ten Hag's men 11 points adrift of the top four with 11 games remaining.
The former Ajax boss was furious that City's equaliser was
allowed to stand as he claimed Rashford had been fouled at the other end
seconds earlier.
But United could have few complaints after being thoroughly
outplayed by their rivals for almost the entire match.
Rashford rounded on his critics this week as he hit back at
questions of his commitment.
The England international has been a pale imitation of the
forward who scored 30 goals last season for most of this campaign but showed a
glimpse of the quality he is capable of to open the scoring on eight minutes.
City pleaded in vain for an offside flag against Bruno
Fernandes and he played the ball back for Rashford to smash in a stunning
long-range effort off the underside of the bar.
Pep Guardiola's men dominated from that moment on but were
kept at bay for nearly an hour by wayward finishing and some fine goalkeeping
by Andre Onana.
Twice the Cameroonian foiled Foden when clean through, while
Rodri was also denied by a smart stop low to his left.
At the other end, Rashford should have doubled United's lead
before the break.
A slip from Ruben Dias put Rashford clean through, but a poor
touch allowed Kyle Walker to race back and clear.
United's lead remained intact until half-time but only thanks
to a moment that will be replayed for years to come.
City finally cut the visitors' mass ranks of defence to
shreds as Rodri's cross was headed back across goal by Foden, inviting the
finishing touch by Haaland.
However, he incredibly turned the ball over with the goal
gaping from point-blank range.
The rearguard action from the Red Devils was finally undone
as Foden produced a strike to match Rashford's in the first half.
Ten Hag was furious that a foul had not been awarded to
Rashford at the other end, but he appeared to go to the ground too easily under
contact from Walker.
Rodri picked out Foden, who cut inside and arrowed a
blistering shot into the top corner.
A slick one-two between Foden and Julian Alvarez opened up
the United defence for the decisive goal as the England international fired in
his 18th of the season.
Haaland's redemption rounded off a fine afternoon for the
English champions.
Rodri dispossessed Sofyan Amrabat and teed up the Norwegian to curl beyond Onana.


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