Manchester metropolis went to the very greater of the Premier League desk on Saturday however they left it late to safe a 2-1 win over Fulham on the Etihad Stadium.
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It appeared to be a typical day on the office for the Premier League champions when Ilkay Gundogan drove forward from midfield earlier than taking half in in Julian Alvarez to open the scoring, nonetheless the temper on the Etihad Stadium modified when Joao Cancelo conceded a penalty and acquired a crimson card 10 minutes later. The spot kick was transformed by Andreas Pereira, however regardless of the numerical benefit, it was the residents who maintained administration of the sport.
Kevin De Bruyne was Manchester metropolis’s brightest in a match that required all of their championship calibre. The hosts thought they’d taken the lead when the Belgium worldwide related with substitute Erling Haaland inside the seventy fifth minute — solely for VAR to confirm he was marginally offside.
That appeared to be metropolis’s final probability of the sport earlier than De Bruyne then gained a penalty in damage time, and he left obligation to Haaland who made no mistake in dispatching from 12 yards to earn an mandatory three factors for his facet.
Positives
Pep Guardiola’s facet ensured they stored administration regardless of taking place to 10 males early on, they typically acquired their reward finally. De Bruyne additionally seems to be inside the variety of type that was essential in serving to them win the league title final season.
Negatives
An pointless problem from Cancelo made issues troublesome for his facet, turning what appeared like a routine afternoon into an appropriate day’s work for the the rest of his temmates.
supervisor rating
Pep Guardiola, 7 — Manchester metropolis appeared to sustain administration regardless of being a particular person down, and Guardiola did not panic as he made simply two substitutions earlier than damage time.
participant scores (1-10; 10 = best, gamers launched after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Ederson, 6 — There wasn’t a terrific deal for Ederson to do on the day as Fulham provided little by the use of photographs on the right track in open play.
DF Joao Cancelo, three — A sending off and penalty left his facet with all of it to do in a recreation that metropolis had been main on the time he acquired his marching orders.
DF Nathan Ake, 6 — compelled to work exhausting as a consequence of the opposition dedicated numbers forward on the counter-assault down the flanks and he was typically ready to face as a lot as a consequence of the problem.
DF Manuel Akanji. 6 — Akanji might have executed greater collectively with his probability shut to half-time, when he directed a free header straight at Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
DF John Stones, 7 — Stretched the play typically down the best flank with runs that had been troublesome for Fulham to choose up. A exact cross curving in direction of Haaland virtually noticed Stones decide up an assist, nonetheless the Norway worldwide might not get his effort on the right track.
MF Rodri, 7 — confirmed extra give consideration to his defensive duties after Cancelo was dismissed and helped preserve administration for Manchester metropolis inside the course of the pitch. not often made a flawed choice with passing and was quick to close down the hazard to forestall play from growing in metropolis’s third of the pitch.
MF Ilkay Gundogan, 7 — The Germany worldwide managed play effectively all by the match, however his recreation was best outlined by an fantastic drive from midfield topped off with a exact go to assist the opener. Picked out Haaland effectively inside the second half with a headed nod-down.
MF Kevin De Bruyne, 9 — Manchester metropolis’s common talisman appeared primarily the most definitely to make issues happen from midfield as he remained on the center of all promising attacking strikes. typically ready to unlock his extra superior gamers with exact passing into astute areas. gained the penalty in damage time to win the sport.
FW Jack Grealish, 6 — appeared to create house down the channel earlier than getting crosses into the discipline that by no means appeared to get your hands on their goal. Two efforts on purpose did not trouble the goalkeeper earlier than he was changed by Phil Foden.
FW Julian Alvarez, 7 — a sturdy strike by Alvarez noticed him put Manchester metropolis into the lead after timing his run behind the defence to perfection. changed simply after the hour mark by Haaland.
FW Bernardo Silva, 6 — Trickery on the best flank noticed Silva make it troublesome for his opponents to close him down, nonetheless the final ball wasn’t at his regular commonplace on the day.
Substitutions
Erling Haaland (Alvarez, sixty 4′), 7 — Had the ball behind the web however VAR’s intervention found that he was marginally offside. Made no mistake with the penalty to seal the sport with moments to spare.
Phil Foden (Grealish, sixty 4′), 6 — launched simply after the hour mark and performed instantly, although confronted associated struggles to Grealish in making an try to create alternatives from the flanks. appeared extra spectacular when combining in central areas.
Ruben Dias (Gundogan, ninety seven’), N/R — launched on to assist see out the final seconds of the sport.
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