Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho could probably barely believe what they had seen- as stunned by events as the millions watching round the world.Was there ever a match of two such different halves?
The first was all light blue as Guardiola’s stylishManchester Cityteam went 2-0 ahead and virtually humiliated their opponents with football mastery.
The second was all red as Mourinho’s dynamic Manchester United roared back with three goals to claim an astonishing victory.What a game - and what a way to delay the title party for City, who will probably have to wait a couple of weeks now.
Guardiola selected a strong side to match the occasion despite the demands of their Champions League quarter final second legagainst Liverpool on Tuesday night, leavingout three regulars in Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus.
This was a match for the ages in Manchester football, and in the first half there was only one team playing. City attacked, while United’s ambition seemed to be only resistance.It was a flawed policy from Mourinho.
An early penalty claim for City, when Ashley Young clearly handled the ball, left referee Martin Atkinson unmoved, but the light blue tide was relentless.
City took the lead in the 25th minute with a classically English goal - a curling corner from Leroy Sane powerfully headed home from close range by Vincent Kompany.It prompted an emotional celebration by the City captain who has missed so much time out of game through injury.
Guardiola’s team scored again five minutes later when United keeper David De Gea senta woefully bad pass straight to Sane.He was fouled, but the ref played advantageand Ilkay Gundogan swiftly swapped passes with Raheem Sterling before steering home a low shot.
City were rampant at this stage; United a rabble.Sterling twice shot over the bar from close range after superb passes from David Silva, while Gundogan headed another chance straight at the keeper.
How they would rue these glaring misses.Down on the touchline Mourinho was a picture of misery. His cautious tactics had been ineffective, his team given a master-class in football. The worst of it for United fans was that their players seemed resigned to being overwhelmed.
It had to change after the break, and so it did, after Gundogan had squandered yet another opportunity, shooting against the woodwork.United were soon level thanks to two goals in two minutes from Paul Pogba, the subject of much pre-match discussion, and totally anonymous until then.
Alexis Sanchez was the architect both timesas Pogba tucked the first over City keeper Ederson and then headed home unchallenged for the second.City fans who had been crowing as they wandered off for their half-time cuppas were stunned as anxiety swept the stadium and the momentum was all suddenly flowing with United.
Football can be a curious game.Guardiola and Mourinho have had a captivating, and at times aggravated, rivalryin the past decade of big-time football --- and this occasion was up with the best of their collisions.
Mourinho was almost emotionless on the touchline, though, when United went 3-2 ahead in the 68th minute with a goal volleyed home from close range by Chris Smalling with the home defence hopelessly out of position.It was an incredible turnaround as the derby passions blazed.
Sergio Aguero was introduced from the bench and should have been awarded a penalty in the 78th minute when taken out by a studs-first challenge from Young, who might easily have been sent off.
The referee, amazingly, misread the incident. Tempers flared everywhere and a succession of players from both teams were then booked.City almost salvaged an equaliser in the final moments. Aguero had a header brilliantly saved by De Gea, and Sterling struck the post from the subsequent corner.
The drama seemed never-ending, but the final whistle eventually blew and signal thatthe title will have to wait for City and their manager.This was match number 514 in the managerial career of Guardiola - and the first time his team had conceded three goals in successive matches.It was not the history he had craved.
No comments:
Post a Comment