The twice-yearly Manchester Derby between Manchester United and Manchester City almost always yields a compelling match, and this morning’s meeting was no different.
United and City met at City’s Etihad Stadium, and the home side took advantage of a 39th minute Chris Smalling red card for United and a 63rd minute goal from Sergio Aguero to take a key 1-0 victory. Despite playing with 10 men for about 50 minutes of the game, United generated multiple scoring chances and acquitted themselves rather well in defeat.
With both teams missing key players (Radamel Falcao for United and David Silva for City, among others), the first 40 minutes saw United goalkeeper David De Gea continue his outstanding form by making several key saves and holding City at bay.
Smalling made life a lot easier for the home side by accumulating these two stupid yellow cards eight minutes apart. The first was for obstruction on City goalkeeper Joe Hart, and a second for a rash challenge on City’s James Milner:
His dismissal opened play up a bit, and in the second half City’s Aguero finally made United pay:
Despite being a man short, United continued to crash the goal and generate a number of good chances throughout the rest of the match. However, City’s defense held resolute, and they swatted aside the United attack to take all three points.
City are now alone in third, six points behind league leaders Chelsea; United, on the other hand, remain in eighth with 13 points and are off to their worst start since 1986.
