Manchester, United Kingdom: Manchester United scored twice in the final minutes to claim a dramatic 2-1 victory at Manchester City on Sunday, adding to the pain for City boss Pep Guardiola.

Josko Gvardiol’s first-half goal looked to have won the game for the Premier League champions, but Bruno Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot in the 88th minute and the impressive Amad Diallo scored the winner two minutes later.

Fans display a banner reading “You will never win four in a row” during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northwest England, December 15 2024. (Photo by Paul Ellis / AFP)

City have now won just once in their last 11 games, a run which includes eight defeats.

Josko Gvardiol’s first-half header gave Pep Guardiola’s men the lead. But United hit back for Ruben Amorim’s second win in five league matches since taking charge last month.

Bruno Fernandes’ penalty was equalized before Amad Diallo scored the winner from a narrow angle in the final minute of normal time.

The defeat leaves City still fifth, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

United climb to 12th and five points behind their city rivals.

Manchester United’s English defender #05 Harry Maguire fights for the ball with Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, IN northwest England, December 15, 2024. (Photo by Paul Ellis / AFP)

The Red Devils will be hoping a dramatic victory can also be the starting point for Amorim to turn around the dynamics of a rivalry that City have dominated for the past decade.

Amorim made a bold move before kick-off as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were left out of United’s squad, with the Portuguese saying he ‘pays attention to everything’.

The United boss may have regretted that call in the 12th minute when Mason Mount limped off to continue his injury-ravaged spell since arriving from Chelsea 18 months ago.

A lack of confidence on both sides was evident in a cautious start.

It took Phil Foden 20 minutes to make the first attempt at goal with a volley that flew just wide of Andre Onana’s goal. But United’s defense is to blame for their poor start to life under new management.

For the third Premier League match in a row, they conceded from a corner as Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected cross curled perfectly into the path of Gvardiol to head home in the 36th minute.

A slow burn of a derby finally came to life seconds later when Kyle Walker and Rasmus Hojlund clashed, with both ending up booked.

Foden’s brace won this game for City last season, en route to an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title.

The England international’s lack of form and fitness has been one of the causes of City’s struggles this season.

However, Foden looked more like his old self as a run and deflected shot just wide nearly doubled City’s lead before half-time.

United failed to manage a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes and Amorim was visibly frustrated by his team’s poor ballplay as the second half began in similar fashion.

A vintage City side under Guardiola would have put their neighbors to the sword, but the English champions created nothing of note in the second half.

Diallo finally forced Ederson into action with a header that the Brazilian clawed around the post on the hour mark.

Fernandes then missed a glorious chance to equalize 15 minutes from time when his shot past Ederson drifted wide with just the Brazilian to beat.
However, City were to be the architects of their own downfall.

Matheus Nunes’ short back pass played into Diallo, who was then brought down by the Portuguese midfielder in his desperation to right the initial mistake.

This time Fernandes coolly sent Ederson the wrong way to equalize.

City’s defense was then undone by a simple long ball over the top from Lisandro Martinez which Diallo ran onto, rounded Ederson and kept his composure to find the net.