Phil Foden scores twice and saves Guardiola in stoppage time

Manchester City returned to winning ways on Saturday, beating Leeds United 3-2 at home, but had to work hard to secure the three points after seeing their opponents erase a two-goal lead. The hard-fought winning goal came in the 90+1 minute, in a moment of anger from Phil Foden, the star of the match.

In the aftermath of defeats against Newcastle (1-2) and Bayer Leverkusen (0-2), the latter in the Champions League, the Citizens, with Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva in the starting lineup, came out focused and determined to get back to winning ways, so much so that they scored in the very first minute, in a first-touch move, with Matheus Nunes crossing from the right for Phil Foden to finish easily.

A strong start allowed City to consolidate the result in the 25th minute, following a corner kick from the left. The ball was left loose in the six-yard box and Gvardiol, opportunely, went there to push it into the back of the net.

Manchester City seemed poised for a comfortable victory, especially as Leeds struggled to get into the game, but everything would change at the start of the second half.

Right at the start of the second half, in the 49th minute, the visitors reduced the deficit, with Calvert-Lewin, who had just come on, getting between the center-backs to win the ball and score. A move that the City defence will have to review and analyze very carefully.

A goal that shook Pep Guardiola’s team to the point that Gvardiol committed a blatant foul on Calvert-Lewin right in the penalty area. Lukas Nmecha’s penalty kick was initially saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, but with the Italian still on the pitch, he scored on the rebound. 2-2.

The Etihad froze, Guardiola put his hands to his head, the team tried to react on the pitch, but nothing went right for the home team, even in a play where Struijk came very close to scoring an own goal.

Despite everything, City never gave up, Guardiola even brought on Omar Marmoush, and the home team eventually made it 3-2 in the 90+1 minute, again through Phil Foden who, after receiving a pass from Cherki, raced down the edge of the area until he found an opening and shot into the back of the net. A goal of pure rage, with Haaland scoring again and Guardiola celebrating with everyone.

With this victory, City moves up to second place with 25 points, two more than Chelsea, but four less than leaders Arsenal. 

Check out the Premier League standings.

In the other games this Saturday, Burnley, with Florentino Luís in the starting lineup, were defeated away to Brentford ( 1-3 ), in a game with four goals in the last ten minutes. Igor Thiago (81st minute, penalty; and 86th minute) and Ouattara (90+3rd minute) scored for the home team, while Fleming (85th minute, penalty) scored the lone goal for the visitors.

A further mention should be made of Sunderland’s sensational comeback against Bournemouth (3-2). The visitors were already winning 2-0 after 15 minutes, with goals from Amine Adli (7m) and Tyler Adams (15m), but the home team reacted and reduced the deficit with a penalty converted by Enzo Le Fée (30m), before leveling the score at the start of the second half with a goal from Bertrand Traoré.

The comeback was completed in the 69th minute with a goal from Brobbey, before the visitors were reduced to ten men following Lewis Cook’s sending off in stoppage time.