Well, that was a mental first half of football.
Manchester City have utterly destroyed their arch rivals Manchester United in just 45 minutes at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scoring braces.
Man City, terrifyingly for the Red Devils, really hit the ground running at the Etihad and should have been one goal to the good within the opening three minutes. A goalmouth scramble saw Man Utd players just about block three quickfire efforts on goal from a combined six yards out.
How did the ball stay out of the net? We’ll never know.
Derby day goalmouth scrambles like that… delicious. #MCIMUN
— Ben Haines (@benhainess) October 2, 2022
David De Gea take a bow, that is stunning goalkeeping, Manchester City started with such high intensity, the low block from Manchester United really coming under pressure early doors. Haaland, De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva all having attempts. Manchester United somehow survive.
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) October 2, 2022
After that miraculous escape in the third minute, United weren’t able to escape in a similar fashion seven minutes later.
A wonderful sweeping move from Manchester City culminated in Phil Foden sweeping the ball into the roof of David de Gea’s net.
Brilliant from City; not-so-brilliant defending from United.
Brilliant finish from Phil Foden puts Man City ahead… brilliant move which he started.@90min_Football pic.twitter.com/nq7pBrjM29
— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) October 2, 2022
And that’s why it’s a risk playing Eriksen in that midfield role. Let him get away
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) October 2, 2022
This is going to be a long afternoon for United.
— Sam Greenwood (@Sam_Greenwood_) October 2, 2022
City’s dominance continued thereafter, with Ilkay Gundogan coming close to making it 2-0 via a free kick. Unfortunately for the Germany international, his wicked effort from the edge of the box cannoned off the post and out for a goal kick.
📸 – GUNDOGAN HITS THE POST! pic.twitter.com/GuqKLZVF4y
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) October 2, 2022
[18′] POST! Ilkay Gundogan from a free-kick. 1-0.
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) October 2, 2022
It took longer than expected, but the home side grabbed a second in the 33rd minute.
The goalscorer?
Take a guess.
That’s a good a header as you’re going to get. Erling Haaland is just a different beast.
— Jacque Talbot (@jac_talbot) October 2, 2022
15 goals as Man City player, 11 games and it’s October 2. 🔵🤖 #Haaland pic.twitter.com/bFbGSpnf6P
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 2, 2022
A machine. Enough said. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/Y9fcVx7jey
— 90min (@90min_Football) October 2, 2022
And yep, he scored again three minutes later. Of course he did.
Haaland slid in at the back post to tip a rather exceptional Kevin De Bruyne cross into the back of the net.
He just can not stop scoring.
Haaland is going to put up goalscoring numbers this season like we’ve never seen before. He’s got everything.
— Freddie Paxton (@Freddie_Paxton) October 2, 2022
Haaland is something else
— Emmy (@emmythompson_) October 2, 2022
There’s no stopping Haaland is there
— Alan Rzepa (@alanrzepa) October 2, 2022
Just before half-time it was four.
That’s right 4-0 at half-time.
The fourth would come from an exquisite break led by De Bruyne which culminated in Haaland drilled the ball across goal to Foden, who made no mistake with his finish.
The best performance of the season so far?
Definitely.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 2, 2022
This could really be anything, spaces everywhere
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) October 2, 2022
Foden only got in at the back post to score there because Martinez is 5’8
— Jude Summerfield (@judesummerfield) October 2, 2022
And there’s another 45 minutes to play…
Credit: 90min.com
