Phil Foden’s brace gave Manchester City a 3-2 win over struggling Leeds, moving them into second place in the Premier League.
The result remained in doubt until the 91st minute, when Foden scored his second goal of the day after Pep Guardiola’s side had inexplicably given up a two-goal lead.
City’s advantage was established 59 seconds into the game, the fastest opening goal of the Premier League season so far, and was further extended when Josko Gvardiol scored from a corner. There was nothing to suggest that Leeds’ turnaround was imminent, with a passive first half failing to even get a shot on target.
Foden also scored the winning goal in the 91st minute.
At the bottom, Leeds manager Daniel Farke needed urgent attention and substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin got it, sparking an unlikely comeback and snatching a late goal before winning a penalty. After Gianluigi Donnarumma had his first shot blocked, he was dispatched at Lucas Nmeka’s second request.
The visitors thought they had grabbed a valuable point, but their second-half performance was nothing short of worthy, but they broke Foden’s heart with a smart winner in stoppage time, moving his team ahead of Chelsea into second place.
After back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen in Europe, City are once again in deep trouble, while Leeds’ woes worsen as they remain stuck in the relegation zone.
Man City no longer have the aura of champions
Lucas Nmeka scored Leeds’ equalizer from the penalty spot.
Analysis by Laura Hunter at Etihad Stadium:
Manchester City’s complete ruination of what looked like a routine victory shows how far they are from being a championship-winning team. The hosts nullified any threat Leeds had in a thoroughly dominant first half. It’s so comfortable and has so many controls that the game was played at an almost walking pace.
Guardiola’s side were able to score through Lucas Perrie, producing an equivalent xG value of 2.39 while conceding 0.10 at the other end. But there’s something vulnerable about this City ensemble. It’s never completely safe.
Foden, the hero of the day, said after the game: “It’s very difficult for any team to win,” but Leeds were there to win. The results were supposed to be invisible.
Of course, the tactical changes made at half-time to facilitate such changes were helped in no small part by City’s lackluster performance, and should be credited to manager Farke. Leeds’ first goal was made possible by a comedic error in defence, and the second goal was the product of an outrageous misjudgment by Gvardiol.
City may have won each of their last six Premier League titles on home soil, but it’s by no means a perfect story.
