MANCHESTER - Manchester United produced a stirring display to defeat rivals Manchester City 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday, handing interim manager Michael Carrick a dream start to his second spell in charge and dealing a major blow to City’s Premier League title ambitions.
A vibrant and attack-minded United side swept aside recent struggles with a dominant second-half performance, as goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed a memorable derby victory. Mbeumo, returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon, broke the deadlock in the 65th minute with a composed finish before Dorgu doubled the lead 10 minutes later, converting a Matheus Cunha cross to send the home crowd into raptures.
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The margin of victory could have been far greater but for an outstanding display by City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and a series of marginal offside decisions that ruled out three United goals. City, by contrast, offered little going forward, with prolific striker Erling Haaland kept quiet throughout as the visitors managed just one effort on target.
The defeat leaves City facing a damaging setback in the title race, with Pep Guardiola’s side potentially falling nine points behind leaders Arsenal, depending on later results. United, meanwhile, climbed provisionally into fourth place, with the performance strengthening Carrick’s case for a longer-term role. United began on the front foot and could have led early when Harry Maguire struck the crossbar from a corner. Amad Diallo later had a goal disallowed after rounding Donnarumma, while Bruno Fernandes also saw his strike chalked off for offside following an incisive move. City goalkeeper Donnarumma was repeatedly called into action, producing a fine double save early in the second half to deny Diallo and Casemiro. However, United’s pressure finally told when Fernandes split the defence with a precise pass for Mbeumo, who calmly guided the ball past the keeper.
Dorgu’s second goal capped a commanding display, while City never found a response. Guardiola conceded defeat, admitting United were the better side on the day. “The better team won,” he said. “They had the energy we didn’t.” For Carrick and United, it was a performance rich in intensity, belief and attacking intent, a reminder of the club’s enduring derby-day pedigree.
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