United end City winning run at 21 with Manchester derby joy

MANCHESTER, England (AP):

Success for Manchester United these days is being the spoiler as Manchester City go on to eventually claim the league titles.

City manager Pep Guardiola's pursuit of a world-record winning streak ended after United won the derby 2-0 yesterday.

A penalty won after 36 seconds was converted by Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw netted five minutes into the second half to end City's 21-match winning run in all competitions.

But the complexion of the Premier League has drastically changed since City's last defeat 106 days earlier at Tottenham left the team in 11th place -- eight points behind the London club at the top.

Now losing is more a matter of pride and missing out on catching the mark of 27 consecutive wins set by Welsh side The New Saints in 2016. City have not only climbed to the summit but built a lead that meant its second-placed neighbour only trimmed the gap to 11 points with victory at the Etihad Stadium.

With such a commanding lead and only 10 games remaining, United have probably only just delayed the moment City dethrones Liverpool as champion. Just like three years ago when Jose Mourinho's derby win prevented City sealing the title that April day.

Title challenge

But it's only two months since United harboured ambitions of their own of lifting the trophy -- for the first time since 2013 -- when they sat in first place. The title challenge has melted away for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side and United will likely be consigned to seeing City crowned champions for the third time since United's name was last etched into the trophy.

But there is no longer a vast gulf when these two sides meet in the Premier League. United have won three of the last derbies and drawn the other.

It's almost a year to the day since United also beat City 2-0 at Old Trafford, the last time they played in a full stadium or any fans were allowed into a Manchester stadium due to the pandemic.