Manchester City 3 Leeds United 2: match reportFoden heroics save City in nervy win against Leeds to put Blues second in the Premier League table
Manchester City defeated Leeds United 3-2 with two goals from Phil Foden in what turned out to be a very tense affair at the Etihad. The Blues were on the back of two consecutive defeats and were looking to bounce back at home. It was not quite as convincing as they might have wanted. Donnarumma started in goal. O’Reilly, Dias, Gvardiol, and Nunes were at the back. Gonzales, Reijnders, and Silva were in midfield with Doku, Foden, and Haaland in attack.
City wasted no time in breaking the deadlock, with a goal inside just 2 minutes when Nunes cross found the foot of Foden, whose volley came off the bar and into the net to make it 1-0. City doubled their lead in the 25th minute after Reijnders swung in a corner from the left which deflected off O’Reilly onto Gvardiol for the defender to score his first premier league goal of the season.
City had the chances to extend their lead throughout the first half, such as as Nico Gonzalez’s attempt from distance that was deflected over the bar but couldn’t convert. Overall though, City looked more than comfortable by half time with the 2-0 lead.
The second half did not go as planned for the Blues however, and within just 5 minutes, Leeds pulled a goal back after a mistake in defence from Nunes led the ball to drop nicely for Calvert Lewin who placed the ball in the net narrow City’s lead to 2-1.
Leeds now had momentum following their goal and continued to put pressure on the City defence, dominating possession in doing so. Eventually, this would lead them to another huge opportunity. In the 66th minute, Gvardiol committed a reckless foul on Calvert Lewin and a penalty was awarded. Gvardiol was booked for the challenge
Lukas Nmecha stepped up and his penalty was initially saved by Donnarumma, but the ball rebounded nicely back to him to poke in the equaliser.
Somehow, Leeds were back on level terms and City had thrown away a two-goal lead.
Cherki replaced Reijnders shortly after the equaliser and City were now in pursuit of a goal to put them back into the lead rather than extend it. After 20 minutes of frustration, Phil Foden stepped up again with a brilliant strike in stoppage time from outside the box to make it 3-2. Leeds desperately tried to find a late equaliser, but City now held firm and saw the game out.
Not City’s finest performance by any imagination, but they had themselves three points. City now move up to 2nd in the table and will need better performances to maintain their high position in the league table, with Fulham away on Tuesday night next in the League.
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