Incoming Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim marked his last home game with Sporting Lisbon in unforgettable style, handing Manchester City their third consecutive defeat — something they hadn’t experienced since April 2018.
The 4-1 loss was City’s heaviest since September 2020, and marked only the second time Pep Guardiola’s team has dropped three games in a row in one season. The night worsened for City when Erling Haaland missed a chance to close the gap, hitting the crossbar with a second-half penalty.
Sporting’s Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, formerly with Coventry City, stole the spotlight with an impressive hat-trick. Gyokeres first canceled out Phil Foden’s early goal with a powerful finish in the 38th minute, then showed nerves of steel after halftime, converting two penalties to complete his treble.
The first of these penalties followed a poor start to the second half for City, who fell behind immediately after the break. Maximiliano Araujo seized the moment, breaking through on a well-timed pass and firing past Ederson to give Sporting the lead.
In the press box, Sporting regulars hailed the win as Amorim’s best performance in charge. With one final match remaining for him at Braga on Sunday, the main concern in Lisbon is whether Sporting can sustain the momentum of their seven-game winning streak after his departure. But any worries were drowned out by the celebrations at the final whistle.
Amorim had humorously suggested on Monday that a win over City might spark comparisons with Sir Alex Ferguson among Manchester United fans. While that may be a leap, Amorim’s remarkable farewell performance has undoubtedly cemented his reputation ahead of his arrival at Old Trafford.
SOURCE: BBC
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