Erling Haaland scored a goal to help Manchester City win a highly controversial Manchester derby at rivals Manchester United despite playing with 10 men for more than 70 minutes.
City midfielder Phil Foden was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, and United responded with a period of dominance, hitting the post either side of half-time.
City scored the game’s only goal in the 60th minute when Haaland tapped in Josko Gvardiol’s low, deflected cross at the back post.
Haaland was initially flagged for offside, but a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check ruled him on.
Enzo Fernandez was not deemed to be affecting play as he stretched to connect with the cross before it reached the scorer.
The result extended City’s unbeaten start to the Premier League season under new manager Enzo Maresca, bringing them level with Arsenal at the top.
United dropped points for the third time in four league games, remaining 13th.
During City’s first derby without Pep Guardiola in over a decade, it appeared that they would struggle to keep up with title rivals Arsenal.
Foden was the second City player to be sent off in a Premier League Manchester derby, after Bernardo Corradi in December 2006. He was sent off for catching Fernandes’ chest with his studs while sitting on the ground. Prior to Foden’s action, Fernandes appeared to kick his back.
The city defended strongly and then benefited from their own contentious decision to go ahead.
Patrick Dorgu’s toe barely got Haaland onside, and Fernandez, who was clearly offside, was lucky not to be warned for interfering with play while attempting to meet the ball with a diving header.
United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who was scrambling across his goal, did react briefly to Fernandez’s attempted pass.
For Manchester United this match was a massive opportunity squandered and was disturbingly comparable to their 1-0 loss to 10-men Everton last November.
After obtaining a man advantage, they first struck the post in the 45th minute with Marcus Rashford’s dipping free kick.
In the 50th minute, Kobbie Mainoo’s curling effort bounced off the post and hit the back of City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma but landed safely for the Italian to gather.
United’s only other major chance came at the end when Fernandes found Bryan Mbeumo in the area, but his sharp shot was palmed behind by Donnarumma.
