MANCHESTER, England (AP) – Michael Carrick got off to a good start as Manchester United’s head coach with a 2-0 Premier League win over Manchester City on Saturday.
Carrick, who took charge in his first game since taking over this week, immediately lifted the Old Trafford gloom with a win that will live long in United fans’ memories.
The former United midfielder has just signed a contract until the end of the season and has 17 games left before convincing club bosses to give him the job on a permanent transfer after Ruben Amorim was sacked last week. And in the 198th Manchester derby, he could not have made a better first impression with a dominant performance against City’s all-conquering manager Josep Guardiola.
Second-half goals from Brian Mbeumo and Patrick Dorg clinched victory, with United fans singing loudly and drowning out their fierce cross-city rivals.
And the victory could have been further emphasized when United hit the target twice, forcing City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to make successive saves and having three goals canceled for offside.
The win not only gave United local bragging rights and increased the team’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League, but also dealt City’s title challenge a further blow.
United dominated the chances around half-time.
Harry Maguire headed the ball against the bar within three minutes and United had two goals ruled out for offside by VAR before the end of the first half.
In the second half, Donnarumma denied goals to Amad Diallo, Casemiro and Mbeumo, and the deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute.
This came after Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring after City’s free-kick went awry, and United’s further quick attack.
City half Fernandes slipped a pass into Mbeumo’s run and the Cameroon forward fired a low, left-footed shot into the top corner for the first time.
Shouts of “unity!” erupted at Old Trafford.
It was a low point for Carrick’s side, who performed with great attacking intent.
In the 76th minute, Dorg cut the lead to two points by converting Matheus Cunha’s cross from close range after beating Rico Ruiz.
United had the upper hand when Amad hit the post, but there was still time for substitute Mason Mount to find the back of the net with his first touch in the 89th minute, but he was ruled offside.
At that point, it hardly mattered. The day belonged to United and Carrick, and after the final whistle, Carrick was all smiles as he congratulated his players.
The great manager Alex Ferguson was watching from the stands, and his smile was as wide as anyone’s at Old Trafford.
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James Robson is https://x.com/James Saran Robson
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
