Record-breaking City win Manchester Derby
MANCHESTER, England (AP):
Manchester City capitalised on two defensive lapses by Romelu Lukaku to claim a record-setting 2-1 win over Manchester United and open up an 11-point lead over its fierce rival in the English Premier League (EPL) yesterday.
Both of Lukaku's mistakes came in United's penalty area while the forward was defending set pieces, with David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi taking advantage to score with close-range finishes in the 43rd and 54th minutes.
Marcus Rashford equalised for United between City's goals, from another defensive mistake, in the meeting of the league's top two teams at Old Trafford.
It was City's 14th straight victory in the league, something that has never been achieved before in England's top flight in a single season. Arsenal won 14 straight games in 2002, but across two seasons.
HOME UNBEATEN RUN ENDED
In handing United its first loss at Old Trafford since winning there in September last year, City ended its neighbour's club record-equalling run of 40 matches unbeaten at home in all competitions.
And it gave City manager Pep Guardiola another win over his great coaching rival, JosÈ Mourinho, his ninth in 20 meetings between them. Mourinho has won four of them.
With 16 games gone, City is still unbeaten in the league and looking unstoppable as it goes for its first league title until Guardiola. Third-place Chelsea is 14 points off the pace, with its coach, Antonio Conte, having already given up on defending the trophy.
Yesterday's EPL results
- Southampton 1-1 Arsenal
- Liverpool 1-1 Everton
- Man United 1-2 Man City