English Premier League: Aguero enforces City domination against 10-man United in 1-0 win
City win fourth consecutive league match for the first time since 1970.
MANCHESTER:
Manchester City reasserted their title credentials as Sergio Aguero’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 Premier League victory over 10-man derby rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.
Both managers had claimed in the build-up to the game that their team was the biggest in Manchester, but it was Manuel Pellegrini’s City who prevailed after Chris Smalling’s brainless first-half dismissal handed them control.
The United centre-back saw yellow as he blocked Joe Hart from releasing the ball and then fouled James Milner to receive his marching orders. After being denied three strong penalty appeals, City eventually took the spoils thanks to a clinical Aguero finish.
The Argentine’s 63rd-minute strike ended a run of three winless games for City, who climbed back to within six points of leaders Chelsea ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League meeting with CSKA Moscow.
The victory gave third-placed City a fourth consecutive league win over their neighbours for the first time since 1970, and left Louis van Gaal’s United seven points behind the champions in ninth.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany hailed his team’s efforts and credited the nervous play in the last minutes to the pressure of the derby.
“There’s no real reason for why we played nervously at the end, I guess it was the pressure and the magnitude of the encounter,” said Kompany. “A derby win is massive; we are not thinking about the league table, we are just thinking about the city.”
Mourinho rolls out red carpet for Oscar
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Oscar’s best is yet to come after the Brazil international set Chelsea on course for a 2-1 victory over QPR on Saturday.
Blues manager Mourinho was critical of his side’s overall display but reserved praise for an influential performance by Oscar which was capped by an outstanding moment of individual skill to give Chelsea a first half lead at Stamford Bridge.
Ultimately it took an Eden Hazard penalty, described as soft by QPR manager Harry Redknapp, to secure the victory that keeps Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2014.
Manchester City reasserted their title credentials as Sergio Aguero’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 Premier League victory over 10-man derby rivals Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium yesterday.
Both managers had claimed in the build-up to the game that their team was the biggest in Manchester, but it was Manuel Pellegrini’s City who prevailed after Chris Smalling’s brainless first-half dismissal handed them control.
The United centre-back saw yellow as he blocked Joe Hart from releasing the ball and then fouled James Milner to receive his marching orders. After being denied three strong penalty appeals, City eventually took the spoils thanks to a clinical Aguero finish.
The Argentine’s 63rd-minute strike ended a run of three winless games for City, who climbed back to within six points of leaders Chelsea ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League meeting with CSKA Moscow.
The victory gave third-placed City a fourth consecutive league win over their neighbours for the first time since 1970, and left Louis van Gaal’s United seven points behind the champions in ninth.
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany hailed his team’s efforts and credited the nervous play in the last minutes to the pressure of the derby.
“There’s no real reason for why we played nervously at the end, I guess it was the pressure and the magnitude of the encounter,” said Kompany. “A derby win is massive; we are not thinking about the league table, we are just thinking about the city.”
Mourinho rolls out red carpet for Oscar
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says Oscar’s best is yet to come after the Brazil international set Chelsea on course for a 2-1 victory over QPR on Saturday.
Blues manager Mourinho was critical of his side’s overall display but reserved praise for an influential performance by Oscar which was capped by an outstanding moment of individual skill to give Chelsea a first half lead at Stamford Bridge.
Ultimately it took an Eden Hazard penalty, described as soft by QPR manager Harry Redknapp, to secure the victory that keeps Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
“I think Oscar was our best player. For 90 minutes he was our best player and not just for the goal. For the dynamic, for the intensity, for the transition,” said Mourinho. “When the team recovered the ball, he was always sharp and fast and when the team lost the ball he was always sharp and fast to recover positions and press the ball. I think he was fantastic.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 3rd, 2014.