United spoil the City party
Manchester City’s English Premier League title celebrations remain on ice.
City seemed on the verge of being crowned champions yesterday, after goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan put them 2-0 up after 30 minutes of their derby clash with Manchester United.
But a superb second-half comeback by United, sparked by two Paul Pogba goals within two minutes, saw the away side seal an unlikely 3-2 win at the Etihad Stadium. Chris Smalling scored the winner for second-placed United, who narrowed their gap to City to 13 points.
City shredded United apart in the first half, with Kompany and Gundogan scoring in a six-minute span. But the celebrations inside the stadium were premature.
United, who didn’t manage a shot on target in the first half, netted three times after the break.
Inevitably, the goals that drew United level both came from Pogba, a day after City manager Pep Guardiola claimed he was offered the chance to sign the Frenchman in the January transfer window.
And Smalling, so fragile in the United defence in the first half, came through with the winner in the 69th minute when he was left unmarked to meet Alexis Sanchez’s freekick.
For City, wh had previously lost only once in the league this season at Liverpool, it was a first home defeat since December 2016.
United reduced City’s lead only to 13 points. But with six games remaining to complete the job, it seems inevitable City will win the title for the third time since 2012.
‘‘We did absolutely everything in the first half but then for 10-15 minutes we conceded goals,’’ City manager Pep Guardiola said. ‘‘It is what it is. ‘‘We were not good enough in the end.’’
United manager Jose Mourinho said the result would not affect the outcome of the Premier League.
‘‘Our challenge is to finish second but I want to congratulate City for the title because they are going to win and deservedly,’’ he said.’’we are a bit better that what people think. The players are a bit better than what people think and I am a bit better than what people think.’’
Liverpool, who take a 3-0 lead to Manchester City on Wednesday for their Champions League quarterfinal second leg, drew 0-0 in a drab Merseyside derby.
At the other end of the table, Stoke fell further into relegation trouble with a 2-1 loss to Spurs. They sit 19th, four points adrift of safety.
Crystal Palace remained just above the drop zone, following their 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. Huddersfield are a spot above them, in 16th, after a 1-1 draw with Brighton. Elsewhere, Chris Wood’s Burnley stay seventh thanks to a 2-1 win over Watford, while bottom club West Brom had a 1-1 draw with Swansea.