Haaland heaps humiliation on United

MANCHESTER, England — The goals just keep coming for Erling Haaland. For Manchester United, it's one setback after another.

Haaland scored twice and set up another as Manchester City beat United 3-0 in the Premier League on Sunday and underlined the growing gap between the teams.

"Against a rival, at Old Trafford, of course it is one of the best (results) of the season," said City manager Pep Guardiola after his team moved within two points of leader Tottenham Hotspur.

"It looks easy but it is not. It really, really is not," said Guardiola. " (I have) a lot of respect for United for what they do, but we were at our best, especially in the second half."

On a rainy Manchester day, it was an all too familiar outcome as City eased to victory against the club that was for so long the dominant force in English soccer, with a record 20 league titles.

It is now 10 years since United won its last league championship, while City has lifted the title seven times since being backed by Abu Dhabi's ruling family in 2008.Guardiola has delivered five titles in six years and last season led the club to a treble of trophies — the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

Erik ten Hag was supposed to close the gap between the teams when hired in 2022, but after a humbling derby loss, it feels as though the distance is widening.

United has lost seven games in all competitions this season, with this latest defeat leaving it eight points off the Champions League places.

Ten Hag, however, tried to offer words of optimism to fans who have repeatedly booed during home games this season and jeered his decision to substitute striker Rasmus Hojlund in the second half against City.

"I think we are on the way up, the start was difficult but now we are on the way up," said the Dutch coach. "When injuries are getting back we will be getting stronger. We have to be patient, but I am happy with some injuries coming back and then our side will be stronger."

Defending champion City put in a dominant performance in the 191st Manchester derby to add to the growing pressure on Ten Hag.

Asked whether the latest defeat made it one of his worst days in the job, Ten Hag replied: "Yes."

"It hurts a lot. I think especially because (in the) first half the game plan went perfectly," he added.

"It is only the penalty that changes the game."

Haaland scored a first-half penalty and doubled the visitor's 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 excellent 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 United striker Hojlund on City midfielder Rodri in the box.

TV replays showed the decision was correct by the letter of the law, if a little harsh.

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 when one-on-one with the striker.

Haaland turned provider in the 80th minute 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.

Agencies via Xinhua