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MANCHESTER, England — In a thrilling encounter at the Etihad Stadium, Amad Diallo scored a dramatic late winner for Manchester United, who came from behind to edge out Manchester City 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.
City was poised for victory, leading 1-0 with just minutes remaining thanks to a goal from Josko Gvardiol in the 36th minute. However, United showcased resilience, leveling the match in the 88th minute with a penalty converted by Bruno Fernandes. Shortly after, Diallo raced through to net the decisive goal in the dying moments, leading United’s head coach Ruben Amorim to express that “something magic happened” during the match.
“It was a very tough match but we believed until the end. We needed that win, and it was vital for us and our fans,” said Amorim. The outcome was met with disappointment from City fans, as their team now faces a difficult stretch, having won only once in the last eleven matches with eight losses. City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “I’m the boss, I’m the manager and I’m not good enough. It’s as simple as that.”
This victory marked a significant milestone for Amorim in his tenure, having claimed a decisive victory against City while managing Sporting Lisbon last November. Despite a difficult start to the match, where United appeared to be heading toward their third consecutive league loss, the late goal frenzy transformed their fortunes. Fernandes had earlier squandered a chance to score in the second half, but the tide turned when Diallo intercepted a weak backpass from Matheus Nunes, who subsequently fouled him in the box.
Fernandes successfully converted the penalty, before Diallo sealed the win with a cleverly placed shot after receiving a pass from Lisandro Martinez. “We have a lot to work on, but this was massive for our fans,” Amorim added. United currently sits in 13th place, trailing fifth-place City by five points, as City’s title defense begins to falter.
In another match, Chelsea secured a 2-1 win over Brentford, closing the gap on league leaders Liverpool to just two points. Chelsea, currently in second place, extended its unbeaten run in all competitions to ten matches, showcasing their strong form since their last league loss to Liverpool in October. Goals from Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson ensured Chelsea’s dominance, though Brentford kept the match interesting with a late goal from Bryan Mbeumo.
In contrast, Southampton made headlines by terminating the contract of manager Russell Martin after a dismal 5-0 defeat to Tottenham. Sitting at the bottom of the table and nine points adrift of safety, Southampton’s woes seem to point toward relegation, just a season after being promoted. The club’s decision to dismiss Martin coincided with Wolverhampton also parting ways with coach Gary O’Neil as both clubs seek change in their campaigns. Tottenham’s victory, propelled by two goals from James Maddison, moved them closer to breaking into European competition spots, positioned just five points off the Champions League places.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace triumphed over Brighton with a 3-1 victory, featuring a standout performance from Ismaila Sarr, who netted twice and assisted another goal for Trevoh Chalobah. The win for Palace was crucial, pulling them four points clear of the relegation zone while Brighton continued their struggle, unable to secure a win in their last four matches.
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