On 64 minutes Michael Carrick’s second tenure went electric as Manchester United scored a classic breakaway goal by Bryan Mbeumo that sent the interim head coach berserk in the technical area.
After a clearing Harry Maguire header, the ball evaded Rayan Cherki and Bruno Fernandes galloped forward. He had Amad Diallo to the right and Patrick Dorgu and Mbeumo on the left; United’s streetwise captain delayed the pass expertly, then found the Cameroonian, whose finish beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with ease.
Old Trafford – the blue zone apart – went into near combustion, the atmosphere supercharged as the neighbours from across town went behind in the 198th derby.
This was precisely what United deserved for taking the contest to City all afternoon, and more soon followed. Carrick had dropped the in-form Benjamin Sesko for Mbeumo. Six minutes after the opener, he removed the scorer, due to his recent Africa Cup of Nations endeavours, in favour of Matheus Cunha and the Brazilian created the second.
This was too simple as Cunha whipped in a cross from the right and Dorgu nipped in front of a slumbering Rico Lewis to pinball home off the right post.
