Marcus Rashford: who else? The Manchester United striker scored a 16th goal in a scintillating season and a seismic 82nd-minute derby winner that gave Erik ten Hag’s team a memorable victory.
It came when Alejandro Garnacho, on as a replacement, twisted and turned in Manchester City’s area before rolling the ball into Rashford who was never going to miss.
Earlier, Pep Guardiola had greeted Jack Grealish’s leaping header with a cheeky grin and punch of the air to celebrate his decision to bring on the winger only three minutes before.
That strike was on the hour and threw down a challenge to United: after dominating for long swathes of this 189th derby could they recover poise and find a way back?
The answer was resounding yes to the first and second, in a response that first featured Bruno Fernades equalising. This came when Casemiro flighted a sweet pass in behind City. Rashford was offside but did not touch the ball and Fernandes ran in and smashed home. Initially the flag went up and a furious Fernandes led the protests to the assistant referee. But, after a pause, the finish was ruled fair – which was correct – much to United’s delight.
Even better followed, via Rashford, to send the Old Trafford in to raptures. The home crowd was a wall of noise, those in blue hushed by the breathtaking way Ten Hag’s side had refused to be cowed by the champions. Towards the end twin challenges from Antony and Garnacho – on Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, respectively – were an apt emblem of how United brought the courage Ten Hag stated had been missing when being blitzed 6-3 in October’s reverse fixture at the Etihad.
That, now, is a particularly distant memory as United, with the win, close to a point to City, who have serious soul-searching to undertake.
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