Erling Haaland seals Manchester derby for 10-man City at United

Manchester City won the 199th Manchester derby at Manchester United on 13 September 2026, with Erling Haaland scoring his ninth goal in the fixture. City played with 10 men from the 22nd minute after Phil Foden was sent off for kicking United captain Bruno Fernandes.

How did Manchester City win with 10 men?

City manager Enzo Maresca refused to settle for a draw after Foden’s dismissal, keeping an attacking shape until late in the match, when Nico O’Reilly replaced Enzo Fernández to help see the result out. At half-time Maresca had already removed Rayan Cherki for Iliman Ndiaye, adding pace on the right.

Why was Phil Foden sent off?

Referee Michael Oliver showed Foden a red card in the 22nd minute after the City forward kicked Fernandes in the midriff as the pair challenged along City’s right flank. The video assistant referee backed the on-field decision. Maresca said afterwards that he agreed with the red card but also wanted one for Fernandes, who had made contact with a boot first but with less force.

How did Erling Haaland score the winner?

Josko Gvardiol’s cross from the left struck Patrick Dorgu’s foot and ran on, past a diving Fernández and Lisandro Martínez, for Haaland to finish. The goal was initially ruled out for offside and then awarded after the video assistant referee decided that Fernández had not distracted Martínez.

What did the managers and players say?

Maresca, asked about Haaland’s importance to City, said: “Happy Erling, happy life. My wife will not be happy.” Haaland praised City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who kept out Mbeumo’s added-time effort: “This wolf in goal is giving you so much confidence, he looks a bit like a wolf. He is a mad man but he is a match-winner as well.”

What does the defeat mean for Manchester United?

United, managed by Michael Carrick, would have moved to fifth, five points behind leaders Arsenal, with a win. Carrick sent on Benjamin Sesko for Youri Tielemans as United chased a goal, and Marcus Rashford’s 20-yard free-kick and Kobbie Mainoo’s shot both beat Donnarumma but struck his right post. United, who marked their return to the Champions League with a 4-0 win over Sabah, could not find the goal that would have rescued the match.

What else happened in the derby?

City had lost 2-0 at United in January, in Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of the hosts, and they pressed early in this match. Antoine Semenyo dispossessed Diogo Dalot on the right, while Harry Maguire’s 25-yard attempt for United struck a team-mate. Late on, a shot from Fernández clipped Senne Lammens’s left post.

Frequently asked questions

Who scored the winning goal in the Manchester derby on 13 September 2026?

Erling Haaland scored for Manchester City in the 199th Manchester derby at Manchester United. It was his ninth goal in the fixture.

Why was Phil Foden sent off against Manchester United?

Referee Michael Oliver sent Foden off in the 22nd minute after the City forward kicked United captain Bruno Fernandes in the midriff. The video assistant referee backed the decision.

How many goals has Erling Haaland scored in Manchester derbies?

Haaland’s goal in the 199th Manchester derby was his ninth in the fixture, according to the match report.

Where would a win have taken Manchester United in the table?

A win would have lifted Michael Carrick’s United to fifth, five points behind the leaders Arsenal. United did not score in the match.

With reporting from The Guardian.

Stock image, not from the events described. Turf soccer pitch illuminated floodlights — rawpixel / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)