Two-time champions Manchester City survived the expulsion of João Cancelo and saved a 2-1 win over Fulham in extra time, with a penalty from Haaland, in a match in the 15th round of the English Football League. It was a very difficult afternoon for two Portuguese fullbacks, Cancelo sent home the ‘citizens’ in the 26th minute and Nelson Semedo against Brighton 45+5, in a home game that Wolverhampton would eventually lose (3-2).
In Manchester, Pep Guardiola’s team, with João Cancelo and Bernardo Silva in the starting lineup, and Rúben Dias of 90’+7, led by Fulham, led by coach Marco Silva and midfielder João Palhinha, suffered. After taking the lead with a goal from Julian Alvarez in the 16th minute, City appeared to be heading for a more or less quiet afternoon, but Cancelo was reckless in the challenge with Harry Wilson, who was isolated, and was sent off.
The bid resulted in a penalty, successfully scored by Andreas Pereira, in the 28th minute, in a game that changed character despite the dominance of the citizensbut against an opponent who is under less pressure, and with one more element in the field.
City’s solution came off the bench when Pep Guardiola exchanged Alvarez for Erling Haaland. The Norwegian still scored in a VAR-rated offside rating, but the goal and victory would even come, from a penalty to Kevin de Bruyne’s penalty, and City took the championship lead.
It’s a scenario that could be tentative, bearing in mind that Arsenal, second by one point, still face Chelsea in this 15th round, in a game to be played at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
In other games today, Wolverhampton added another defeat on the day the penultimate standings announced Spaniard Julen Lopetegui will become the new coach of the squad, full of Portuguese players.
In Molineux Stadium, still led by Steve Davis, who replaced the fired Bruno Lage, the ‘wolves’ won 2-1, with goals from Gonçalo Guedes (12 minutes) and Rúben Neves (35′), from penalty, already after Lallana reached Brighton (10′).
Very close to the break, Japan’s Mitoma (44′), assisted by Lallana, made it 2-2, but Nelson Semedo, with a foul on the Japanese and the ejection, left the wolves in trouble on the edge of the break. . (45’+5′).
The team struggled for almost the entire second half, but very close to the end Pascal Gross made it 3-2 to Brighton, who climbed to sixth on condition, while Wolverhampton, who still had José Sá, João Moutinho and Podence, remains. in 19th and penultimate place.
On a high-scoring afternoon, the highlight was the turnaround at Leeds-Bournemouth, with the home side losing 3-1 in the 48th minute but eventually winning 4-3, and before the draw achieved by red lantern Nottinham at falling (90’+6′), against Brentford.
Also today, Everton welcome Leicester, in a journey that ends only on Sunday, with the remaining five games, including Chelsea-Arsenal and Tottenham-Liverpool.
Source: DN
