In a dramatic turn of events, Ivorian forward Amad Diallo emerged as the hero to inspire Manchester United to a stunning 2-1 comeback win against cross-city rivals Manchester City in the Premier League.
Just when it seemed like United were heading for their third consecutive defeat, Diallo’s brilliance turned the game on its head, much to the dismay of the home supporters at the Etihad Stadium.
The match began with Manchester City taking the lead in the first half. Josko Gvardiol rose to meet a deflected cross from Kevin De Bruyne, heading the ball past United goalkeeper Andre Onana to give City a 1-0 advantage. Despite City’s dominance, Manchester United kept fighting, and in the final minutes, their persistence paid off.
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Amad Diallo Turns the Derby Upside Down
The 22-year-old Amad Diallo was the catalyst for United’s late surge. With the game nearing its conclusion, the Ivorian pounced on a loose backpass from City’s Matheus Nunes. As Diallo tried to find space for a shot, Nunes chased back to recover but instead fouled the United forward inside the penalty box, giving away a penalty.
Bruno Fernandes stepped up to take the spot-kick, sending Ederson the wrong way to level the score at 1-1.
Amad Diallo’s game by numbers vs. Man City [RANK]:
94% pass accuracy (!!!)
7/10 duels won
5/8 dribbles completed [🥇]
4 shots [🥇]
1 penalty won [🥇]
1 goal [🥇]The best player on the pitch. BY A MILE. pic.twitter.com/hFaKE6Fx0y
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 15, 2024
But the drama didn’t end there. Just two minutes after the equalizer, Manchester United sealed the victory in extraordinary fashion. Lisandro Martinez played a long ball into the City penalty area.
Despite being surrounded by three City defenders, Amad was quickest to react, taking a slightly wayward shot that nevertheless managed to slip past Ederson and roll into the empty net.
Late Heroics and Wild Celebrations
Bruno Fernandes had earlier squandered a one-on-one chance but made no mistake when it mattered most, converting the penalty with calm composure.
His equalizer sparked wild celebrations among the traveling Manchester United supporters, who were ecstatic to see their team bounce back from recent setbacks.
The victory not only ended United’s two-match losing streak but also deepened the wounds of their crosstown rivals, who had been hoping to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.
His change of direction to escape the offside was super intelligent. Not everyone can pull that off. Amad 👏🏻🔥 pic.twitter.com/WhbV4vS6rf
— Martien 🇳🇱 (@MartienBall) December 15, 2024
This dramatic Manchester Derby victory will go down as one of the most memorable in recent years, with Amad Diallo’s clinical finishing and composure under pressure making all the difference for Ruben Amorin’s side.
