Late Diallo magic inspires dramatic United victory in Manchester derby

Amad Diallo struck a last-gasp winner as Manchester United produced a stunning double-blast to secure a 2-1 victory at neighbours Manchester City that continues Pep Guardiola’s champions’ wretched run.

Josko Gvardiol headed in the opener on 36 minutes as the visitors’ struggles defending set pieces were again exposed from a short corner.

It was the stand-out moment in a dour first 45 minutes in which both teams showed anxiety and a lack of quality.

United had the better openings in a similarly lacklustre second period but could not conjure up a response until Diallo won a penalty four minutes from time that allowed Bruno Fernandes to level from the spot.

The Red Devils then sent the visiting fans into ecstasy when Diallo latched on to a long pass, went past Ederson and fired into an empty net at the death.

The result means Man City sit fifth, nine points off leaders Liverpool, having played a game more with just one win from their last 11 matches in all competitions. United rise to 12th with a second league win under new boss Ruben Amorim.

Next up, United visit Tottenham in the League Cup quarter-finals on Thursday before hosting Bournemouth in the league on Sunday. City visit Aston Villa on Saturday.

For long spells, the game lacked quality with United’s weakness at set pieces looking like it would prove decisive in terms of which colour of the city would be enjoying the bragging rights.

Step forward, Amad Diallo. The youngster was United’s main threat throughout and seized upon an error from Matheus Nunes to win the penalty for Fernandes to level before following his assist with a stunning solo goal.

It was an out-of-the-blue double blast from United and it means a largely forgettable derby will live long in the memory in the red half of Manchester.

It may well be a catalyst and a significant moment for Amorim too, with the Portuguese boss no doubt feeling justified in making a big decision ahead of kick off as he dropped both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from his squad.

As for City, it must feel like it is going from bad to worse for Guardiola. This was an eighth loss in 11 matches and surely kills their hopes of retaining their title. The champions look devoid of belief and even managed to lose a game in which they had laboured towards the finish line against what had been a toothless United.

The pressure is mounting on the Citizens and their manager with it looking more and more likely they will need to spend well in January to save their season.

Amad Diallo (Manchester United). The 22-year-old was more of a nuisance than a major threat for the majority of this derby, but he made the decisive contributions, earning the penalty for the equaliser before more ice cool work saw him pinch the points and the bragging rights. This was right up there with his heroics that saw him score the late winner against Liverpool in last season’s FA Cup; a man for the big occasion against the club’s greatest rivals.

MAN CITY: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Dias 6, Gvardiol 7, Nunes 5, Silva 5, Foden 5, Gundogan 5, De Bruyne 5, Doku 6, Haaland 5. Subs: Kovacic 5, Grealish 5, Savinho n/a.

MAN UTD: Onana 6, Mazraoui 7, Maguire 7, De Ligt 7, Martinez 7, Dalot 7, Ugarte 6, Fernandes 7, Mount 4, Diallo 8*, Hojlund 6. Subs: Mainoo 7, Zirkzee 5, Yoro 5, Antony 6, Lindelof n/a.

36’ – GOAL! – Man City 1-0 Man United: (Gvardiol). It’s Gvardiol who breaks the deadlock as the defender powers a header home from De Bruyne’s deflected left-wing cross after United failed to deal with a short corner.

62’ – MAN UTD CHANCE! Amad flicks Fernandes’ devilish cross towards the far post but Ederson produces a smart save to claw away his header.

73’ – MAN UTD CHANCE! That’s a huge miss. Fernandes darts on to a through pass following some neat build-up but somehow contrives to lift his attempt over Ederson and well wide of the far post.

88’ – GOAL! – Man City 1-1 Man United: (Fernandes). Fernandes sends Ederson the wrong way with an ice cool spot kick. The penalty was awarded after Nunes fouled Amad Diallo trying to make up for a woeful pass that had put the United forward through.

90′ – GOAL! – MAN CITY 1-2 MAN UTD: (Amad). What a turnaround! Amad races through again, flicks the ball over Ederson and squeezes a volley from a tight angle on the left side of the area into the net.