Manchester United and Manchester City clashed in their first rendition of the Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. Despite the benefit of Sergio Aguero’s match ban for an elbow in a prior match, United were unable to grab victory and maintain their perfect start. United manager Jose Mourinho made two changes to the team that started the three previous matches and while De Gea, Valencia, Blind, Bailly, Shaw, Pogba, Fellaini, Rooney and Ibrahimovic retained their starting roles, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard replaced Juan Mata and Anthony Martial. Despite their phenomenal defensive start, United looked a ghost of themselves as they committed serious defensive blunders that led to the Manchester City goals. City also held the lion’s share of the ball, maintaining 60% possession throughout the game.
The match almost begun pompously for United as a Paul Pogba distant shot narrowly missed the top left corner in the seventh minute. Things took a decided turn for United’s worst interests when a Aleksandar Kolarov clearance was head-flicked on by City’s Kelechi Iheanacho in midfield. Kevin De Bruyne took the next touch on the ball, deftly playing it past Daley Blind into the yard’s of space between the United backline and goalkeeper. With only the goalie to beat, De Bruyne slotted home city’s first real chance of the goal to break the deadlock. Twenty minutes later, there was more magic on display from De Bruyne. De Bruyne controlled an overhead deflection in the box to ground and whipped in a shot-cross along the ground that beat De Gea but not the post. The rebound, however, fell right in the path of the City youngster, Iheanacho, who placed the redirect in the goal to provide City the comforts of a two goal lead.
While United could have gone out with a whimper, they responded with the next goal. On Wayne Rooney’s 50 yard free kick delivery, Bravo failed to catch the overhead ball. The resulting loose ball fell to Zlatan on a volley, which he thumped home through the traffic of City players to spring new life into the game just before the first half concluded.
In the second half, United continued to press the attack to equalize the score. After a soft Nicolas Otamendi pass was stolen, Wayne Rooney played a wonderful cross to the back post. Ibrahimovic latched onto the ball with his head, but his attempt, struck brilliantly in terms of pace, arrived in Bravo’s arms at chest height. Soon after, Rooney played a through ball intended for Jesse Lingard, who outmuscled his defender and shielded the ball from the advancing Bravo. With the goalkeeper off his line, Lingard played a short pass to Ibrahimovic, who struck a feeble attempt on goal (hoping to catch Bravo out) that was trapped and passed away easily by the last defender, John Stones.
Marcus Rashford was granted an appearance as a substitute for Mkhitaryan. He immediately made his presence known. On a pass played down the left sideline, Rashford shielded his defender from the ball masterfully, letting it run along the touchline, allowing him to turn and sprint past his defender at full speed and dribble towards goal. After some deceptive stepovers, he played a juicy cross into the box towards Ibrahimovic, whose effort on goal was deflected by Kolarov for a corner kick. Ibrahimovic’s attacking prowess was a persistent problem for the City defense. Rooney played a cross into the eighteen yard box that Zlatan chested down and volleyed, miscuing his shot over the goal mouth.
In the 56th minute, controversy lurked its head in the match. A high press by the United forwards pressured the City defense into a back pass to the goalkeeper. Bravo misplayed his controlling touch into no man’s land (not quite a pass to the nearest defender, but not within two steps to make a proper pass). Rooney seized his opportunity to stride into the penalty area and abscond with possession to poach the equalizer. Bravo and Rooney both slid after the ball with Bravo “winning” possession, contacting Rooney, and leaving the United skipper in a heap after the collision. Old Trafford’s stands boomed with claims for a penalty, which were immediately shaken off by the match official, Mark Clattenburg. On a second look, the referee may have elected to award a penalty, but the call remains as does the result.
It appeared that United may have equalized in the 70th minute when a Daley Blind clearance proved to be the perfect through ball to Marcus Rashford. Rashford used his pace to advance into the penalty area where he struck the ball on frame. The shot was deflected by Zlatan past Bravo. Unfortunately, however, the Swede was in an offsides position and the goal rescinded. City forced two saves from De Gea soon after that re-alerted United to their defensive responsibilities. De Bruyne nearly beat De Gea soon after those to seal the result, but his shot struck the inside of both uprights and exited the goal mouth only to be cleared. United mustered a few more shots, but nothing quite as menacing as their previous efforts and ultimately they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of their noisy neighbors.
This loss may worry United supporters and management alike, but there are positives to be taken from this narrow defeat. First, Marcus Rashford is a big-time player even at his young age. He showed no pause, fear, or lack of nerve from the very moment he stepped on the pitch. Second, although this may be a considered a negative as well, Paul Pogba has yet to perform up to his expected form. Third, Wayne Rooney has adapted well to his secondary striker or central midfield role. Fourth and final, United will remain in the top four of the league table even if Everton win their match tomorrow against Sunderland.
Mourinho will be keen to gain the three points against United’s next EPL opponents, Watford. However, he will make sure they are prepared and do not overlook their next opponents in the the Europa League competition, Feyenoord. United play Feyenoord on Thursday, September 15th at 1pm EST (match aired on the Fox Sports Network) and Watford on Sunday, September 18th at 7am EST (match aired on NBC Sports Network).