Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in the Premier League, despite playing with 10 men for more than 65 minutes after Phil Foden was sent off in the first half.
Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game, but it stood only after a lengthy VAR review overturned the referee's initial offside call and cleared City's Enzo Fernandez of interfering with play in the build-up.
Foden's dismissal came after a coming-together with Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, who kicked out at the City midfielder before Foden reacted. Fernandes avoided a red card of his own for the incident. Before kick-off, Manchester United fans staged a protest against owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family outside Old Trafford. Rayan Cherki started alongside Foden for City, Elliot Anderson returned to Enzo Maresca's line-up, and Michael Carrick made three changes to his Manchester United side.
VAR overturns offside call for Haaland's winner
The Premier League's match centre said in a statement that the video assistant referee checked the referee's call of no goal for offside and determined that Haaland was in an onside position, recommending the goal be awarded. It added that while Fernandez was in an offside position, "the VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn't play the ball."
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez disputed the ruling on Sky Sports. "I think [Fernandez] was offside. What I can't understand is the rules. He was there. I went to him because he was in front of me. That's why Haaland was free at the back," he said. "I want to be calm but it is so hard. Every season the officials come to our club and spend an hour explaining the rules and they look so confident with that. Then after five or six people (officials) doing this kind of mistake in the Premier League is unacceptable. We have to go home with this injustice."
Haaland's reaction and derby record
Haaland himself admitted he initially thought his goal might be ruled out. "I thought there was maybe someone who flicked it because I normally don't go offside, so I told Michael Oliver I took it a bit personally that he thought I was offside," he told Sky Sports. "But I looked over to the gaffer and he gave me a thumbs up and I knew then it was a goal, so I prepared myself to go and celebrate."
He also reflected on winning with 10 men. "This hasn't really happened a lot in my lifetime that we go down to 10 men, so it's a kind of new experience to win with 10 men. It's amazing... Even with 10 men, we're still a good team and we showed that today. I think we even became sharper with 10 men," he said.
The goal made Haaland the outright top scorer in Premier League Manchester derbies, with nine goals, surpassing Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney, who both scored eight in the fixture.
Carrick and Neville react to the officiating
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said he was left confused by the officials' explanation. "We put things in place in the game now. We have people in offices with all the screens for this decision. It's more worrying about if that's the interpretation of football now," he told Sky Sports. "The decision isn't going to change the season, but it's had a major impact on the game... That's our second defeat now, since I've been in charge, but we're a good team and we'll get back to winning ways."
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville said the Premier League's own statement pointed to an admission of error. "They're the words that I think, emphatically, means we will see an apology from Pro Ref," he said on Sky Sports. "There is no doubt that Enzo is attempting to play the ball and putting Lisandro Martinez off. It's a really strange one. They'll recognise they got that wrong."
Elliot Anderson's standout display
With City down to 10 men, Elliot Anderson took on extra responsibility in midfield. According to stats from Squawka and Opta, he made 76 touches, completed 45 of 52 passes, won seven duels, made seven line-breaking passes, won possession back six times, made six passes into the final third, won four fouls, made three clearances and three tackles, and completed two of three long balls.
Anderson has settled quickly at City following a difficult debut in the Community Shield against Arsenal.
Ndiaye's impact off the bench
Maresca's decision to substitute Cherki for Iliman Ndiaye at half-time proved decisive. Ndiaye led City's press throughout the second half, recording the most duels won in the match with nine, the most fouls won with five, and jointly the most successful take-ons with three.
