Manchester United beat rivals Manchester City for the first time in
five Premier League attempts with a stirring 4-2 comeback victory at Old
Trafford.
City’s title defence had crumbled heading into
the match amid a run of five defeats in seven matches across all
competitions, but the champions briefly displayed their fluent best in
the early stages –
Sergio Aguero’s seventh goal in derbies after seven
minutes the reward.
The direct, high-tempo approach United have
found success with in recent weeks provided their route back into the
match, with Ashley Young levelling before supplying the ammunition for
Marouane Fellaini to give the hosts a 27th-minute lead.
Although
Louis van Gaal’s men were fortunate to be ahead at that stage, they
proceeded to dominate their neighbours, who slipped into the kind of
lethargic performance now synonymous with their 2015 efforts – heaping
pressure on Manuel Pellegrini.
Juan Mata, the hero of United’s
recent triumph at Anfield, added a third midway through the second half
amid strong suspicions of offside and Chris Smalling put the game beyond
doubt, with Aguero’s
late strike – his 100th for City – providing scant
consolation for the visitors.
United sit four points clear of
fourth-placed City, who face a battle for UEFA Champions League
qualification with their season on the brink of total collapse.
Smalling
– sent off in United’s 1-0 loss at the Etihad Stadium in November –
returned from illness to line up in the home defence, with Marcos Rojo
dropping to the bench.
Source: soccerway.com
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