Manchester City beat rivals Manchester United 1-0 in a highly controversial Manchester derby, with Erling Haaland scoring the winner despite City playing much of the match a man down following Phil Foden's first-half red card.
Key facts
- Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on 13 September 2026.
- Erling Haaland scored the winning goal, described as controversial by multiple outlets.
- Phil Foden was sent off in the first half, leaving City with 10 men.
- City played with 10 men for more than 70 minutes, according to the BBC.
Manchester City claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over rivals Manchester United in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring a controversial winner. The result was made all the more remarkable by the fact that City completed most of the match with only 10 players.
The turning point came in the first half, when Phil Foden was shown a red card. According to Al Jazeera, Foden was sent off for City, forcing the visitors to reorganise and defend for long periods against their local rivals.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, City held firm. The BBC reported that Haaland’s goal helped the team win the highly controversial derby while playing with 10 men for more than 70 minutes, underlining the scale of the defensive effort at Old Trafford.
Sky Sports described Haaland’s winner as contentious, noting that the goal earned 10-man Manchester City the derby win over United after Foden’s controversial first-half dismissal. Both the red card and the decisive goal were flagged as points of controversy by the outlets covering the match.
The 1-0 scoreline, as reported by Al Jazeera, settled a fixture that carried significant local rivalry. For City, securing three points away from home while a man down represents a notable result; for United, defeat at their own ground will add to the disappointment of a closely contested encounter.
Why it matters
The Manchester derby is one of the most watched fixtures in English football, and results between the two clubs carry weight both in the standings and in local bragging rights. A win secured with 10 men, decided by a contentious goal, is likely to fuel debate among fans and pundits over the key refereeing decisions.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of the Manchester derby?
Manchester City beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford, according to reports from Sky Sports, the BBC and Al Jazeera.
Who scored the winning goal?
Erling Haaland scored the winner for Manchester City. The goal was described as controversial by multiple outlets.
Why did Manchester City play with 10 men?
Phil Foden was sent off with a red card in the first half. The BBC reported that City played with 10 men for more than 70 minutes.