During the course of the just concluded week, Manchester City had been battered 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final tie by Liverpool at Anfield. It was an embarassing display from the Cityzens if you asked me. It was rare to see a Guardiola led side not registering a shot on target. Maybe they had a shot on target I missed, probably when I was topping up my empty cup with ale or when I was trying to select which ponmo was softest. Liverpool were superior in all aspects and I say no more.
So City needed to beat Manchester United last night to win the Premier League and I was prepared for a United loss at first but things changed when I realized they could always win it another day, why must it be against us. The ale must have been putting stuff in my head (lol). I was happy with my beloved United’s line up though I would have preferred Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford to have gotten a starting nod. Jesse Lingard has however been in great form also so it was not a bad XI. The highlight for me was the middle 3 of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic and Ander Hererra. The mission was clear stifle the City Midfield, don’t let them breathe.
The game kicked off and it was already looking like what United manager Jose Mourinho is often criticized for, which was defending against the big sides. The first 12 minutes was all about City and as the game wore on United didn’t still have much of the ball. Man City broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through Captain Vincent Kompany from a Leroy Sane corner kick.
5 minutes later City got a second goal after Raheem Sterling nicely set up Ilkay Gundogan. It was already looking like it was game over. First half ended 2-0 and the Red Devils had De Gea to thank for not making the scores worse.
The Paul Pogba Show
The second half kicked with the Red Devils dominating possession though City’s Gundogan hit the bar in the 51st minute but it was always looking like United would get the next goal. Cometh the hour cometh the man. Ander Herrera found Pogba with a cross which the French man latched on to score and make scores 2-1. 2 minutes later Pogba was the one Alexis Sanchez crossed for to head home a second for United to level scores at 2-2. Game on.
At this point United were holding on to the ball better.
The Winner
United were awarded a free-kick in the 69th minute and Alexis Sanchez stepped up to take the set-piece. He sends the ball in to the City box and Chris Smalling wasted no time in burying the ball into the net. 3-2 in favour of United.
The come back kings seem to be in the driver’s seat and looking like they would be delaying Manchester City’s title winning celebrations for another week.
City huffed and puffed, strung passes together, tried to take shots but United was having none of it. In the 90th David De Gea denied City an equalizer making a superb save from a Kun Aguero effort.
Chris Smalling’s goal settled the tie in United’s favour. I think Raheem Sterling should take the fall for City’s loss missing a flurry of chances on the night which could have buried the Red Devils before their resurgence.
Glory Glory Man United.
Thanks for your time guys. Have a BLESSED week ahead.
