KELECHI Iheanacho became the first Nigerian player to score an English Premier League goal in the Manchester derby, Saturday, when Manchester City defeated Manchester United 2-1.
Kevin de Bruyne’s cool finish and Kelechi Iheanacho’s tap-in after the Belgian hit the post put City in complete control as they outclassed Mourinho’s Manchester United for most of the opening 45 minutes.
Pep Guardiola also emerged victorious from his first Premier League battle with old adversary Jose Mourinho as Manchester City secured a fully deserved win in a frantic Old Trafford derby.
United were handed a lifeline just before the break when City’s debutant keeper Claudio Bravo summed up his desperately uncertain display by dropping a free-kick to allow Zlatan Ibrahimovic to pull a goal back.
They mounted an aerial siege in front of the Stretford End but City held firm to maintain their position at the top of the table, coming closest to scoring when De Bruyne struck an upright from Leroy Sane’s pass. The long-time rivalry – and acrimony – between former Real Madrid manager Mourinho and ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola meant this fixture was ringed on the calendar from the moment it was announced.
A truce was called in the build-up to the game as Guardiola announced he would accept an invitation for a post-match glass of wine with Mourinho and there was an embrace when they met before kick-off.
And when the game started, Guardiola stalked his technical area, micro-managing every moment of City’s approach, while Mourinho crouched and made notes as the game progressed.
The Spaniard will have been delighted to see such early superiority, a magnificent first 40 minutes of clinical passing and movement leaving United’s midfield, including £89m world record buy Paul Pogba, as virtual passengers.
It was only that moment of indecision from Bravo that disrupted City – and Guardiola’s congratulations for his players at the end were also an expression of delight for their resilience when the going got tough late on.
He showed his willingness to shore things up when he sent on Fernandinho for Iheanacho – but it was not such a good day for Mourinho.
