RismadarVoice Reporters
September 13, 2026
Manchester City defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal as Enzo Maresca’s side maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season despite playing with 10 men for more than 70 minutes.
Haaland struck in the 60th minute to settle a fiercely contested Manchester derby after City midfielder Phil Foden had been shown a straight red card in the first half.
Foden was dismissed in the 23rd minute for kicking out at United captain Bruno Fernandes, leaving City to defend with a numerical disadvantage for the remainder of the match.
United immediately took control following the dismissal and created several opportunities, including efforts that struck the post on either side of half-time.
Despite sustained pressure from the hosts, City remained organised defensively and eventually produced the decisive moment on the counter-attack.
Josko Gvardiol’s low, deflected cross reached Haaland at the back post, where the Norway striker tapped the ball into the net to give City the lead.
The goal, however, sparked controversy after Haaland was initially flagged offside.
A lengthy Video Assistant Referee review eventually overturned the decision, with the technology determining that Haaland was onside by the narrowest of margins.
Patrick Dorgu’s toe had played Haaland onside, while Enzo Fernandez, who was in an offside position and attempted to connect with the cross, was judged not to have interfered sufficiently with play to invalidate the goal.
Fernandez’s movement nevertheless appeared to affect United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who had to react as the midfielder attempted to meet the delivery.
City’s victory came despite United enjoying a significant spell of dominance after Foden’s dismissal.
The red card itself was also debated, with Foden receiving his marching orders after catching Fernandes in the chest with his studs while the City midfielder was on the ground.
Fernandes appeared to have kicked Foden in the back shortly before the incident but escaped a booking.
The defeat was another setback for United, who have now dropped points in three of their first four league matches and remain 13th in the Premier League table.
For City, the result marked a perfect beginning to the new managerial era under Maresca and moved them level on points with Arsenal at the top of the table.
The victory was also significant as City’s first Manchester derby without Pep Guardiola in more than a decade, with Maresca successfully negotiating one of the most demanding fixtures of his early tenure.
Haaland’s decisive strike was his sixth goal in four matches, underlining the striker’s early-season form and his importance to City’s title ambitions.
City’s ability to hold on with 10 men for more than an hour, absorb United’s pressure and then punish the hosts on the break provided Maresca with a major early success in his first derby.
United, meanwhile, will have to regroup quickly as they attempt to recover from another disappointing league result and climb from the lower half of the table.
