THE smallest man on the pitch won one of the worst Manchester derbies in living memory as Pep Guardiola’s fallen champions continued on their journey down the gurgler.
With City leading after 88 minutes through Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header, Amad won a penalty which was converted by Bruno Fernandes, then netted a dramatic late winner.
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It meant Guardiola’s side have won just once in their last 11 games and are now below Nottingham Forest, the only team they have beaten during this horror run, and out of the Champions League places.
For United boss Ruben Amorim, this was a remarkable victory, after he had ditched Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho from his matchday squad in a show of early ruthlessness.
This was a Manchester derby which had been billed as the worst in decades and it pretty much was the worst in decades until Amad stole the show.
Guardiola’s crumbling empire was pitted against the ancient ruins of Sir Alex Ferguson’s dynasty and you couldn’t see any world-class quality for dust.
Two clubs which boast 21 titles of the 32 Premier League seasons contested are wallowing in mediocrity right now.
And United can only hope that the fall-out from this Manchester derby is better than the last one – when they won the FA Cup Final only to make the disastrous decision to stick with Erik ten Hag.
We had assembled to find out which Manchester club was in the worst state – the one which has been in crisis for ten games or the one which has been in crisis for the vast majority of the last 11 years.
United’s teamsheet seemed to suggest the answer – no Rashford or Garnacho – with Amorim refusing to offer up any dodgy sicknotes.
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What is it with United wingers? From Mason Greenwood to Antony to Jadon Sancho to these two. No wonder Amorim prefers to play without any.
Hearts bled for the length of City’s injury list. Much more of this and Guardiola might have to start £100million Jack Grealish.
Either way it had been at least 35 years since this fixture had felt so forlorn on both sides.
On the pre-match trams there was nostalgia for the bad old days, the City faithful revelling in former failures – the old-timers telling their kids that ‘one win in ten was nothing, you should have been there in the Third Division’.
After back-to-back league defeats, United had been buoyed slightly by a Europa League win over Viktoria Plzen, who most of us assumed was ranked No17 on the WTA Tour.
For half an hour it just advertised – two poor teams – with United marginally the better of them.
Although it might have helped them if Amad had been onside at any point.
Mason Mount, whose luck with injuries has been horrible, hobbled off after 15 minutes to be replaced by Kobbie Mainoo.
Phil Foden, the Footballer of the Year who hasn’t scored a Premier League goal all season, drilled one wide from 20 yards.
City were ragged and passive until, suddenly, they were a goal ahead.
De Bruyne took a short corner to Ilkay Gundogan and a return pass before his deep cross took a ricochet on its way to Gvardiol, who leapt behind Diogo Dalot to power home a header.
After this brief burst of pride, City’s skipper Kyle Walker plunged his team back into shame.
While rutting heads with Rasmus Hojlund, Walker went down like a sack of spuds, sparking a mass bout of handbags and the genuine ire from the full-back’s long-term England team-mate Harry Maguire.
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Yorkshiremen are not supposed to act like this, Maguire might have said. Although it was probably less polite than that.
Foden, looking a little more like last season’s model, then wriggled past Manuel Ugarte and Lisandro Martinez before his shot was deflected wide off Maguire.
But the first-half was best summed up by a schoolboy pass from Dalot across his own penalty area, which went straight to Foden, who couldn’t control it.
After the break, if anything, the quality got even worse.
City decided to allow a free header to the tiniest player on the pitch, Amad, and Ederson was forced into a full-stretch save to turn it around the post.
Man Utd player ratings vs Man City as sensational Amad Diallo turns derby on its head
AMAD DIALLO left Manchester City stunned as he turned the derby on its head.
The flying winger won a penalty, converted by Bruno Fernandes, in the dying embers to level it up.
But the best was yet to come as Amad flicked past an onrushing Ederson before expertly slotting in a dramatic winner from a tight angle deep into injury time.
Here’s how SunSport’s Neil Custis rated the Man Utd players…
Andre Onana – 6
He just does not fill you with confidence. Does not command his area and as we found out midweek in Plzen, his distribution from the back is a major plus for the opposition.
Wasn’t tested that much however.
Lisandro Martinez – 7
Looking a calmer presence under Amorim than he did before when he seemed to want to live up to his nickname from his Ajax days of ‘The Butcher of Amsterdam’.
Great through ball at the end to pick out Amad’s run for the winner.
Harry Maguire – 8
Had a great battle with Erling Haaland which the United man won.
The right call to bring the former captain in for such a big game. Looks like he suits the position in the centre of that back three.
Matthijs de Ligt 78′ – 7
A decent enough performance. Looked more comfortable alongside Maguire than other centre-back partners.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Mistimed his jump to be beaten to the ball by Josko Gvardiol for the City opener. Did not create enough going forward from his wing-back role.
Bruno Fernandes – 8
Missed a big chance after being put through by Hojlund and clipping the ball wide.
But when the moment comes from the penalty spot he is a cool head in the hottest of atmospheres sending Ederson the wrong way to equalise
Manuel Ugarte – 7
Sat in front of the back four and negated much of what Phil Foden was trying to do for the home side.
Noussair Mazraoui 78′ – 8
The best of the summer buys. Used as the right wing back on this occasion and is able to adjust to whatever is asked of him. One of United’s bets performers on the day.
Mason Mount 13′ – 6
Looked very close to tears when he had to come off after early in the game. He is just getting no luck whatsoever with injuries and has not had a decent run since joining the club.
Amad Diallo 90′ – 9
The greatest moment of his career so far with a memorable derby winner. A brilliant run first of all to meet Martinez pass, he then clipped the ball past Edersonn and while it was a scuffed finish he got it on target.
Had almost grabbed an equaliser with a flick header before that which was well saved by Ederson.
Then was alert to Nunes back pass to win the penalty that did lead to United drawing level.
Rasmus Hojlund 78′ – 6
Most we saw of him was a head to head confrontation with Walker when the City player slumped to the ground and a little fall of his own when he tried to win a pen.
But then he provided a great through ball for Fernandes which should have brought the equaliser.
Subs
Kobbie Mainoo 13′ – 6
Did a solid job as he came on ina deeper role than Mount and Fernandes moved forward
Joshua Zrikzee 78′ – 6
Not the man who is going to come on and change a game, but he did well to hold onto possession in the closing seconds.
Antony 78′ – 6
Came on to try and make a difference but is lacking the confidence which a lack of starts brings.
Leny Yoro 78′ – 6
Continues to ease himself back to full fitness after that summer injury.
Victor Lindelof 90′ – 6
No time to have any influence on the game.
Mostly, though, it was an ongoing struggle for either side to string three passes together.
De Bruyne, pretty much our only hope for anything world-class, fizzed over a long-ranger and was then substituted in favour of Mateo Kovacic.
Unexpectedly, United engineered a coherent move.
Noussair Mazraoui went on a scampering run and fed Hojlund, whose excellent through-ball released Fernandes.
The United skipper deftly chipped Ederson but his effort went wide of the far post.
United deserved a point. It just ever felt entirely feasible that they would do enough good things in a row in order to score a goal.
Until, suddenly, they scored twice in two minutes.
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The first was a personal disaster from Matheus Nunes, whose back-pass was intercepted by Amad.
The little fella rounded Ederson and as he turned, the recovering Nunes stood on his foot.
Ref Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot and Fernandes thumped home.
Next, Martinez delivered an expert pass from the deep, and Amad shot between City’s central defenders to meet it.
He lobbed Ederson, volleying home from an angle as Walker failed to cut it out.
It was largely terrible but the finale was simply extraordinary.
