THERE are games that define a season and a team.
Matches that bring a sense of belief and conviction, results that are bigger than the points they earn.
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Famously, Arsenal’s “Invincibles” looked back with their 10-man goalless draw at Old Trafford at the start of that remarkable campaign.
And if Enzo Maresca and City go on to lift the crown in May, this against the odds win with 10 men for more than an hour will go down in Etihad folklore.
When Phil Foden responded to a boot in the backside from Bruno Fernandes by lashing out with his leg, catching the United skipper amidships, City’s hopes looked to be following him down the tunnel.
But inspired by Elliot Anderson and half-time substitute Iliman Ndiaye, twice rescued by the uprights which denied Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, and with Enzo Fernandez’ tricks and wiles making him an instant City hero, the men in light blue resisted and resisted.
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And then, as so often, they struck, through the man who does exactly that, time and again.
Erling Haaland’s back-post finish, his fourth in as many Prem games was initially ruled out before being chalked ON by the Stockley Park video crew.
While it was a smash and grab win, the City players lining up to salute their fans after Gigi Donnarumma’s vital last-gasp save from Bryan Mbeumo, it was a remarkable against the odds triumph.
One that deserved the celebrations from the travelling supporters that will continue for months, joyfully reminding the swiftly emptying stadium of their team’s numerical disadvantage.
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Sunday 13 September
Man Utd
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Monday 14 September
Leeds
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Newcastle
Friday 18 September
Brentford
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Chelsea
Saturday 19 September
Spurs
12:30
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Villa
Sunday 13 September
Man Utd
0 – 1
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Man City
Coventry
0 – 5
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Brighton
Saturday 12 September
Sunderland
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Arsenal
Spurs
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Liverpool
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Fulham
Palace
2 – 3
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Ipswich
English Premier League
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For Michael Carrick, reality bites, hard.
Nine months after the derby win that kickstarted his reign, just four games into the season, United are eight points adrift of their neighbours.
It will hurt, all the more as when Foden was sent off mid-way through the opening period, the stars could not have been more aligned in United’s favour.
Two early meaty crunches by Anderson, the first on Marcus Rashford and the next to dump Bryan Mbeumo, suggested Maresca had told his side there could be no repeat of the callow display on their last visit, under Pep Guardiola.
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In the event, Foden took the message too literally.
Not that there was too much for either set of fans to talk about in the initial stages – all hustle and bustle but precious little football.
All of which then got overtaken as Foden’s nightmare in front of England boss Thomas Tuchel unfolded.
Foden every right to be furious when he was caught in position out wide on the touchline, fouled to go to ground before receiving a sly kick from the United skipper.
But there was no justification for the flailing boot which caught Bruno flush in his groin.
Michael Oliver could not produce the red card quickly enough but he was right – although City will doubtless, and with some cause, argue both sides should have been down to 10.
The VAR, unable to recommend a yellow for the United man, merely confirmed Oliver’s immediate assessment.
Fernandes was public enemy No1 as far as the City fans were concerned – and United smelled opportunity.
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Creating chances, though, remained at a premium.
Donnarumma was smartly off his line to grab the ball from Rashford’s toes but Anderson was a man possessed, plugging every gap.
United, though, were so close in the final minute of the half, after Enzo’s wild challenge sent Youri Tielemans spinning through the air.
Rashford took responsibility, arcing over the wall and towards the corner, Donnarumma nowhere near the ball as it cannoned back off his right-hand upright.
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Maresca, booked for protesting after Enzo went down in the United box on the break, made the first change, Ndiaye replacing Rayan Cherki.
It was to prove an inspired call, with Ndiaye terrific – although after the woodwork, again, foiled the home side soon after the restart.
Diogo Dalot’s ball inside was touched on by Bruno for Mainoo to measure a 25-yarder that curved away from Donnarumma’s grasp but once again came back into play off the upright.
When Mainoo’s determined run ended with Rashford’s low strike deflected into the side-netting, City looked ragged and on the rack.
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United kept coming, Mateus Cunha spinning into space before flashing narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Then, from nowhere – after what seemed a pointless VAR check when the flag went up as the ball hit the net – Haaland stole in to score.
It started with a casual error from Patrick Dorgu, with City, through Ndiaye and Antoine Semenyo, combining to find Gvardiol on the left.
Enzo was clearly offside as he went for the ball and Haaland also appeared to be in front of the last defender.
But the semi-automated technology showed the Norwegian was onside because of Dorgu’s foot, that Fernandez had both made no contact and was not interfering with Lisandro Martinez and – at least two minutes after everything had stopped – the goal should count.
Even City seemed surprised and now they really had something to hold onto.
Indeed, had Lammens not got just enough of a touch to flick Enzo’s strike against his left-hand post and away, United, now with Benjamin Sesko on, might have folded.
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Instead, they came again. Donnarumma saved from Bruno, Mbeumo flicked a header wide, although Haaland was a whisker away from guiding Enzo’s free-kick inside rather than outside the frame of the goal.
Tempers fraying, Maguire booked for his furious reaction to Enzo’s yellow carded dive inside the box, before it ended with Donnarumma diverting Mbeumo’s effort behind. Astonishing stuff.