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MANCHESTER, March 3 (Reuters) – Phil Foden kept Manchester City’s Premier League title fight on track with a superb second-half brace as his side fought back to claim a 3-1 home win over Manchester United United on Sunday.
Marcus Rashford’s eighth-minute thunderbolt gave United the lead against the run of play and it looked like the visitors could put a dent in City’s hopes of a fourth successive crown.
But Pep Guardiola’s team remained patient, dominated possession and were finally rewarded with Foden proving again how indispensable he now is to City.
Foden curled a sublime shot into the top corner in the 56th minute and the England striker then produced a clinical finish with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
Erling Haaland, who wasted a golden opportunity in the first half, secured the points with a late goal.
Reigning champions City, whose unbeaten run in all competitions now stands at 19, rose to 62 points, one behind leaders Liverpool, whom they visit next weekend.
United, who suffered their 11th league defeat of the season, remain in sixth place with 44 points.
Rashford’s unexpected thunderbolt might have knocked off lesser teams, but Erik ten Hag’s United could have few complaints about the way City turned things around – coming from behind to win a Premier League derby for the first time.
City had 74% possession and 27 attempts on goal compared to United’s three, but despite all the global talent on display, it was local boy Foden who found the key to the lock.
The 23-year-old received a standing ovation as he walked off after taking a knock in injury time – City fans were excited to keep the pressure on Liverpool and Arsenal.
“That’s my goal, to be present in the big games,” said Foden, who has now equaled his record of 11 league goals in a campaign. “This season I’m proving it.”
City camped in the United half in the opening minutes but were stunned when on the visitors’ first foray, striker Bruno Fernandes launched a pass towards Rashford, who instantly unleashed a 25-yard shot that crashed into the bottom half. of the stringer and in the net.
Rashford also had other chances, losing control after being sent off shortly afterwards and then failing to hit a volley at the far post when well positioned.
City tested United’s defense continually and eventually opened the game only for Haaland to somehow go over the bar from Foden’s headed cross as half-time approached.
It was an incredible miss from such a lethal striker, but there was no sense of panic and the pattern continued after the break with City pinning United down in their own half.
It looked like some magic might be needed to break United’s resistance and Foden provided it.
Receiving the ball on the right, just outside the area, Foden leaped in and unleashed a fierce left-footed shot that was as spectacular as Rashford’s effort.
He eased the tension and City continued to press and Foden put them ahead in the 80th minute with a low left-footed shot that crossed André Onana after Julián Álvarez had put it in.
Haaland was not denied his goal and came into action in stoppage time with a characteristic left-footed finish to emphasize the gulf in class between the two teams.
On the title race, Guardiola said: “We can’t control what Liverpool or Arsenal, Aston Villa or other contenders do, it’s about us. We do what we have to do to win today, next Wednesday and the Sunday. This team is legendary.”
(Reporting by Martyn Herman Editing by Toby Davis)
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