Manchester United vs Manchester City; Premier League
Manchester United vs Manchester City. Premier League.
Old Trafford.
Man Utd 0-1 Man City: Erling Haaland's controversial winner follows Phil Foden's contentious red card in dramatic Manchester derby
Report and free match highlights as Man City beat Man Utd 1-0 in the Manchester derby; Phil Foden was controversially sent off for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes; United hit the post twice but Erling Haaland put City ahead, but was Enzo Fernandez offside in the build-up for the winner?
Sunday 13 September 2026 18:57, UK
Erling Haaland's contentious winner earned 10-man Manchester City a derby win over rivals United at Old Trafford - after Phil Foden's controversial first-half red card.
City have now joined Arsenal as Premier League title race pace setters with maximum points from four games - but their winning goal against Man Utd will be questioned. Enzo Fernandez looked to impact play when clearly in an offside position - but the goal was not ruled out.
"When they look back on this, they will recognise they got this wrong," added Neville. "We will see an apology from Pro Ref. There is no doubt that Fernandez is attempting to play the ball and putting Lisandro Martinez off."
City will feel justice was done after their job became much harder when Foden was given his marching orders earlier. A tepid first half of the 199th Manchester derby was dominated by Foden's shock sending-off.
After United captain Bruno Fernandes kicked the ball into his midriff, Foden was adjudged to have reacted by kicking back at the Portuguese.
- As it happened | Teams | Stats | Watch FREE PL highlights
- Latest news and rumours: Man Utd | Man City
- Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱
- Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream Premier League games with no contract📺
"VAR has described it as a kick with both feet into the stomach," said Gary Neville on co-commentary.
Whether there was enough contact from Foden to cross the violent conduct threshold will be debated. Whether Fernandes should have also seen red for kicking out at Foden first will also be talked about.
Despite the man advantage, United struggled to use their dominance to full effect. They did hit the post twice through Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo - but when Haaland is on the other team, City always have a chance.
That came true as he tapped home at the back post, yet the offside flag went up. The semi-automated offside technology ruled Haaland onside so the goal was given - but Fernandez being clearly offside and trying to get on the end of the same cross was also approved by VAR.
The Premier League Match Centre claimed the goal was allowed because Fernandez did not touch the ball - when the rules state that is not necessarily relevant, as impacting the play is the crucial line in the rulebook.
While the debate over Foden red card and the Haaland winner will go on, City will see themselves as real contenders for the title after a gutsy display with 10 men.
United, who saw Bryan Mbeumo denied a late leveller by a stunning Gianluigi Donnarumma save, will ask themselves why they didn't have the quality to hurt a transitional City with an extra man.
WATCH: The two big calls
The key moments from Old Trafford
23: RED CARD! A slow-starting derby explodes into life as Foden is sent off for kicking two feet out at Fernandes.
45+1: OFF THE POST! Man Utd struggle to fashion chances after the sending-off, but Rashford's 28-yard free-kick comes off the foot of the woodwork.
51: OFF THE POST AGAIN! Mainoo's curling effort beats Donnarumma but lands on the foot of the post.
60: GOAL! Haaland taps home at the far post but is flagged offside. After a lengthy check, Haaland is deemed onside by the semi-automated offside technology - but was Fernandez offside in the build-up?
68: OFF THE POST! Fernandez nearly doubles City's lead but his drive is tipped onto the post by Senne Lammens.
86: WIDE! Harry Maguire has United's best chance of a leveller but he nods wide at a corner.
90+5: WHAT A SAVE! Donnarumma denies Mbeumo late equaliser with amazing stop!
How the pundits reacted to Foden red card
Roy Keane: "Foden does react. The strange thing is that Fernandes gives a kick...for me, he is the one who is violent here. I don't think it's a red card for Foden, l really don't."
Micah Richards: "Fernandes catches him! I don't agree with Foden's response, but it's Fernandes who started it."
Gary Neville: "It looks like Foden has reacted. He has kicked him in the stomach. You are not going to get away with that."
