Haaland Scores Twice as Man City Dominates Man United with 3-0 Win

Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts after the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, Britain, 29 October 2023. (EPA)
Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts after the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, Britain, 29 October 2023. (EPA)
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Haaland Scores Twice as Man City Dominates Man United with 3-0 Win

Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts after the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, Britain, 29 October 2023. (EPA)
Erling Haaland of Manchester City reacts after the English Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, Britain, 29 October 2023. (EPA)

Erling Haaland scored twice and set up another goal as Manchester City beat Manchester United 3-0 in the Premier League on Sunday to again showcase the gap between the teams.

Defending champion City put in a dominant performance at Old Trafford in the 191st Manchester derby to add to the growing pressure on United manager Erik ten Hag.

This was United's seventh loss of the season in all competitions and leaves it 11 points adrift of leader Tottenham in the league.

City's win moved it within two points of the top of the standings.

Haaland scored a first-half penalty and doubled the visitors' lead with a header shortly after halftime.

He then provided the cross for Phil Foden to complete the scoring and prompt United fans to leave the stadium early.

Haaland has now scored 13 goals in all competitions this season and might have had more if not for the efforts of United goalkeeper Andre Onana, who produced a number of saves to keep City at bay.

City went ahead in the 26th minute from the penalty spot after referee Paul Tierney reviewed a pull by Rasmus Hojlund on Rodri in the box.

Haaland stepped up and sent Onana the wrong way by firing low to the right.

By then Onana had already denied Foden from scoring with a header and then scrambled the ball away from Haaland before he could convert the rebound. The goalkeeper also pushed away Jack Grealish's low, curling shot from outside the area.

United threatened on the break, but failed to make the most of promising openings for Scott McTominay and twice for Hojlund.

In first-half stoppage time McTominay came closest to finding a goal for United with a spinning shot on the edge of the box that was blocked by Ederson.

Haaland then nearly doubled City's lead with a close-range header that forced an acrobatic save from Onana.

He didn't have to wait long for his second, which came four minutes after the break with a powerful header from Bernardo Silva's cross.

Rashford raced beyond City's defense in search of a goal to pull United back into the game, but fired narrowly wide from an angle.

Onana then denied Haaland a hat-trick goal when one-on-one with the striker.

Haaland turned provider in the 80th when squaring for Foden to score from close range.

Before kickoff both teams had come together to commemorate United great Bobby Charlton, who died earlier this month. Past players from both sides of the city entered the field to join in a moment of applause.

In one stand United fans were invited to raise white paper that read out “Sir Bobby” in giant lettering. Elsewhere a huge banner was unfurled with a picture of him lifting the European Cup trophy in 1968.



Federer Pens Tribute to Retiring Nadal

Tennis - Laver Cup - Media Day - 02 Arena, London, Britain - September 22, 2022 Team Europe's Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo
Tennis - Laver Cup - Media Day - 02 Arena, London, Britain - September 22, 2022 Team Europe's Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo
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Federer Pens Tribute to Retiring Nadal

Tennis - Laver Cup - Media Day - 02 Arena, London, Britain - September 22, 2022 Team Europe's Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo
Tennis - Laver Cup - Media Day - 02 Arena, London, Britain - September 22, 2022 Team Europe's Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo

Roger Federer paid tribute to his retiring rival Rafa Nadal on Tuesday, telling the Spaniard he challenged him like no other player and that he had made the tennis world proud during a glittering career lasting over two decades.

Nadal is part of the Spain side that will begin their Davis Cup campaign against the Netherlands later on Tuesday, with the injury-plagued 22-times Grand Slam champion set to call time on his career after the team competition in Malaga.

Federer, who was part of the "Big Three" of men's tennis alongside Nadal and Novak Djokovic, posted a letter on X looking back at his rivalry with the 38-year-old.

"Let's start with the obvious: you beat me - a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could," Federer said of Nadal, who edged their rivalry 24-16.

"On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground.

"You made me re-imagine my game - even going so far as to change the size of my racket head, hoping for any edge."

Federer, who won 20 Grand Slam titles before retiring in 2022, also poked fun at Nadal's courtside quirks.

"I'm not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level," Federer added.

"All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear ... all of it with the highest intensity.

"Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique - it was so you. And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more."

Nadal was by Federer's side in the Swiss great's final event when they played doubles for Team Europe at the Laver Cup in 2022, with images of the pair crying together going viral on social media.

"It meant everything to me that you were there by my side - not as my rival but as my doubles partner," Federer added.

"Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career."