Manchester City’s Norwegian striker #09 Erling Haaland (2R) celebrates scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on September 14, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP).
Erling Haaland’s second-half double led Manchester City to a commanding 3-0 victory over a lackluster Manchester United on September 14, 2025, intensifying scrutiny on United’s manager Ruben Amorim.
Phil Foden opened the scoring, while Haaland’s clinical strikes either side of a glaring miss showcased City’s dominance at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite United briefly sitting above City in the Premier League table for the first time in five years, their performance reflected City’s struggles more than their own progress.
Amorim’s side, with only four points from four games and a recent League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby, were outclassed.
“We were simply outplayed,” a United source admitted, as reported by AFP.
City’s new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma marked his debut with a spectacular save to deny Bryan Mbeumo, preserving a 2-0 lead.
“Donnarumma’s save was a game-changer,” Pep Guardiola noted post-match.
The victory, a boost for City after two consecutive league losses, keeps them six points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of clashes with Napoli and Arsenal.
Before the match, fans united to honor boxing icon Ricky Hatton, who passed away at 46, with a minute’s applause. Foden, motivated by Hatton’s memory, said, “We wanted to win for Ricky.”
The England star, regaining form after a tough season, headed in Jeremy Doku’s cross to spark City’s rout.
United’s defense faltered repeatedly, with Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire gifting possession, leading to Haaland’s second goal.
“It’s unacceptable,” Amorim lamented, as City fans taunted him with chants of “sacked in the morning.”
Despite no immediate threat to his job, Amorim’s record of eight wins in 31 Premier League games looms large.
