IT'S THE PHIL FODEN SHOW AS MANCHESTER CITY STAGE STUNNING COMEBACK IN MANCHESTER DERBY WIN!

Sunday 3 March 2024

Premier League 2023/24

Gameweek 27/38

Etihad Stadium, Ashton New Rd, Manchester M11 3FF

IT'S THE PHIL FODEN SHOW AS MANCHESTER CITY SEAL DERBY WIN!

Phil Foden showcased a masterclass today as City dominated the Derby by winning 3-1

MATCH PREVIEW:

The biggest game of the weekend. It is the 192nd Manchester Derby as Manchester City look to do the double over Manchester United to close the gap to Liverpool, once again, by one point, as Liverpool needed a late winner from substitute Darwin Núñez to see off Nottingham Forest yesterday evening. Both teams won their previous games. The hosts are on a phenomenal run of form, unbeaten in all competitions since early December, they saw off Luton Town in emphatic style, thanks to a 5-star Haaland show and Mateo Kovacic's great strike. Manchester United, meanwhile, are a bit inconsistent with their results. After losing at home to Fulham, they did set-up the arch-rival clash at Old Trafford against Liverpool in the FA Cup, by seeing off Nottingham Forest thanks to Casemiro's late winner. Who will take the bragging rights in this clash? Can Manchester City do the double over United and extend their long unbeaten run, or will Manchester United end Manchester City's unbeaten home run and equalise having lost 3-0 at home earlier in October?

TEAM NEWS:

5 changes for Manchester City from their 6-2 win over Luton Town, with Ederson, Doku, Phil Foden, Rodri,  and Rúben Dias coming in for Manuel Akanji, Stefan Ortega, Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes and Jack Grealish, with the 28-year-old English winger out with a groin injury, but the good news was that Josko Gvardiol is back on the bench after 3 weeks out injured.

There is no Rasmus Højlund as he is sidlined with injury as Erik Ten Hag makes 2 changes from their narrow 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest, with Kobbie Mainoo and 36-year-old Jonny Evans start in place of Antony and Sofyan Amrabat. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Phil Foden: What a season the 23-year-old is having! 7 goals in the last 6 appearances coming into the big game. He already scored a hat-trick against Manchester United, last season where his team won 6-3. Having scored at Old Trafford in a 3-0 win this season, can he score again and continue his brilliant form?

Erling Haaland: What a brilliant night he had on Tuesday, scoring 5 goals for the second time in his Manchester City career. 6 goals in his last 3 games, can he once again score against Manchester United after he scored a brace in October?

KICK-OFF: FIRST HALF:

The hosts kick-off and the 192nd Manchester Derby is underway! And inside the first 10 minutes, the Red Devils jumped in front with a cracker. LOVELY PASS FROM ONANA, TO FIND BRUNO FERNANDES, SETS IT UP AND RASHFORDDD!!!!! WHAT A SUBLIME STRIKE FROM MARCUS RASHFORD!! ONLY 8 MINUTES IN AND THE 26-YEAR-OLD HAS PUT MANCHESTER UNITED IN FRONT IN THE DERBY! What scenes for the travelling fans as he struck a wonderful goal from 30 yards.

Rashford silenced the home crowd on 8 minutes with his superb 30-yard strike.

We've seen what Manchester City can do after they concede the first goal of the match, can they find a way back into this one? They have never beaten United in 15 attempts when they trail 1-0. The hosts ramped up the pressure by winning corner after corner, but nothing really came from them. Onana was producing terrific saves to deny Phil Foden and the United defence were disciplined and organised to thwart any attack from the Blues. And on 44 minutes, the biggest chance of the game for the hosts. Foden, lovely work, HAALAND!!! How on earth has he missed that? A simple headed finish was needed, but that should''ve been 1-1. Big chance wasted.

Erling Haaland misses a chance to level the score for Man City.

HALF-TIME AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM. It has been a good first half for Man United. They have been very good, defensive-wise and they have restricted the hosts and denied them any way of going through. Can Manchester City turn the tempo and the game in their favour in the second half?

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

It was advantage Manchester United at the half-time interval, can they continue to hold on, or will the Sky Blues come roaring back into the game? It was much better from the hosts, as they continued to ask questions of the Manchester United defence. And on 56 minutes, the leveller was found. Rashford was deemed to have been fouled by Kyle Walker, but the play goes on, De Bruyne finds Stones, and the link-up play is very good. Doku picks out Rodri, and that's a great pass, AND THERE'S PHIL FODENNN!!!! A BOLT FROM THE BLUE, FROM THE HOSTS! A BRILLIANT STRIKE FROM FODEN AS HE SCORES HIS 7TH GOAL AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED IN the PL. Timely equaliser this, for Manchester City. 16th goal for the season for the 23-year-old. He steps up, big time, for Pep Guardiola's side. 

Foden celebrates with his signature sharpshooter celebration after scoring the leveller.

It has gone perfect for Manchester United, until they were let down, can they create a way to lead again? So far, this game has been very interesting and thrilling to say the least. Plenty of tackles and efforts on goal being shown, and eventually, on the 80th minute, the Blues struck again.

De Bruyne, finds Álvarez, he picks out Foden, plays the one-two, and FODEN SCORES AGAIN!!! THE NOISE IS DEFINITELY THERE AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM!! Comeback sealed in style! With only 10 minutes to go until the end, it is the boys in blue, that lead United.

LOUD CHEERS FROM THE HOME FANS AS THEIR LOCAL HERO, PHILIP WALTER FODEN, HAS SCORED THE WINNER!!

Foden celebrates after scoring a brace to give Man City the lead with 10 minutes to play.

After all of the hard work, now United are behind. What a comeback it has been from Man City. They once again, showcased why they are the Premier League Champions, as they pushed for a third goal. And the game was put to bed in stoppage time, with the third goal for the world champions. Good work from Rodri, wins it back and HAALAND!! THIS TIME, THERE WAS NEVER IN ANY DOUBT! CALMLY FINISHED AND HE SEALS THE DERBY FOR CITY. 3 POINTS WELL AND TRULY SEALED, in the first minute of stoppage time. 

Haaland seals the 3 points by scoring his side's 3rd goal of the game.

FULL-TIME AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM!!! MANCHESTER CITY RETAIN THEIR STATUS AS KINGS OF MANCHESTER. MANCHESTER IS BLUE ONCE AGAIN! 

What a game we have witnessed! Two incredible goals from two academy players, Rashford on 8 minutes for the Reds, Foden on 56 minutes for the Blues. And then on, Foden ruled the derby alongside Haaland to seal 3 points to keep up with Liverpool in the title race.