Haaland’s Goal Gives City Victory Over United After Foden’s Sending-Off

Al-Taj News – Norwegian striker Erling Haaland led his Manchester City side to maintain its perfect record at the start of the season, securing a 1-0 victory away to its fierce neighbors Manchester United on Sunday in the fourth round of the English Premier League, despite being a man down from the 23rd minute.

Haaland scored the only goal of the match in the 60th minute, giving his new Italian manager Enzo Maresca his fourth win in four Premier League matches with the team, and his fifth in a row after beating Portuguese hosts Porto 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.

United, which finished third last season, allowing it to return to the Champions League where it began its campaign on Thursday with a 4-0 victory over Azerbaijani side Sabah, suffered its second defeat, compared with one win and one draw at the start of the league, despite having the numerical advantage from the 23rd minute following Phil Foden’s sending-off.

Haaland said, “It’s a new experience for me to win with ten players. It’s something great, honestly.”

After a largely even start, City suffered a severe blow when Foden was shown a red card for kicking Portuguese player Bruno Fernandes during their challenge for the ball, in reaction to a kick directed at him by the “Red Devils” captain, who escaped punishment (23).

Foden became only the second player to be sent off against United in the Premier League, after Italian player Bernardo Corradi in 2006, according to Opta statistics.

United then imposed a relative advantage, but without creating any real chances against Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, with the first half ending with a dangerous attempt for the hosts from a free kick taken by Marcus Rashford, with the ball rebounding off the right post (45).

The same post again denied United a goal after stopping a shot from Kobbie Mainoo before the ball ended up in Donnarumma’s arms (51).