Canadian rapper Drake officially kicked off the first overseas derby and the NRG Stadium rocked to the White Stripes' Seven Nation Army as Manchester United re-emerged for their second-half against City. Only they were represented by nine nations for the remaining 45 minutes.
Jose Mourinho had already planned to give Sergio Romero 45 minutes and said ahead of the game players would get 60 or 30 minutes. Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling and Daley Blind clocked up 45 during their jittery first-halves.
Smalling, perhaps the likeliest United player to leave next, was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he tugged City's jinky Patrick Roberts and his former partner Blind was pegged back by the ex-Fulham academy graduate and Kyle Walker. The fearless Phil Foden noticed City were having joy against Blind and targeted him, too. After the Dutchman was booked, the stadium announcer pronounced his name as 'BLIND'. And Blind was at times.
Lindelof said after United fielded three at the back against LA Galaxy he had never played in the system before and the irony is it is the one formation he has appeared mainly at ease in. Against City, he was vexed by the space developing between the defence and midfield and Lindelof, usually an adventurous centre half, appeared reluctant to break ranks and vacate the acreage behind him.
