FROM THE ETIHAD STADIUM – Manchester City moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win over relegation threatened Leeds United.
The visitors were under the stewardship of Sam Allardyce for the first time after he replaced Javi Gracia as manager earlier in the week, and they almost grabbed the unlikeliest of points despite City dominating throughout.
A first half brace from Ilkay Gundogan had set City on their way to victory and he should have completed his hat-trick on 84 minutes when Erling Haaland handed him the ball to take a penalty conceded by Pascal Struijk – the German instead struck the post
Leeds then went straight down the other end to reduce the arrears; Rodrigo capitalising on Manuel Akanji’s error to sent up a tense finish.
Allardyce’s system frustrated City in the opening 15 minutes – debutant Joel Robles going untested – as Julian Alvarez fired over the bar after good work from Riyad Mahrez, but it didn’t take long for the Algerian to create the opener.
The former Leicester man stepped inside Junior Firpo and found Gundogan who swept the ball home from the edge of the box with a precise finish.
Robles then denied Erling Haaland from close range, but there was nothing he could do as Mahrez and Gundogan instigated a rinse and repeat just before the half-hour mark – this time the latter firing into the opposite corner.
City camped in Leeds’ half for the remainder of the opening period, with Ederson a genuine spectator other than making a smart stop from Weston McKennie’s header soon after Gundogan’s second strike, and Phil Foden almost celebrated his return to the starting line-up with a goal of the season contender.
Current Premier League table, top scorers & upcoming fixtures
The second half saw more City domination as Haaland hit the bar and had a header saved by Robles, before Nathan Ake was forced off through injury – a real concern ahead of the Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid.
Haaland then saw a deflected effort hit the post – summing his afternoon up – while Mahrez had a whipped free-kick kept out by Robles.
Gundogan should have put the game to bed from 12 yards after Struijk upended Foden, but his sidefoot penalty hit the upright and ricocheted away. Leeds broke away immediately and made it 2-1 as Rodrigo punished Akanji’s indecision with a smart finish into the bottom corner.
City held on for the win – their fans chanting ‘champions’ on the day of King Charles III’s coronation – and it’s a question…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at 90min EN…