Man City defeat Leeds to cut the gap at the top to just two points | OneFootball

Manchester City have cut the gap at the top of the table down to two points after defeating Leeds United on the road.

Pep Guardiola was without striker Erling Haaland for the visit to Elland Road that saw City under the cosh early on.

With just three minutes gone in the game Brenden Aaronson sent in a ball from the right that would almost certainly have been a goal if Dominic Calvert-Lewin connected with the ball the way he wanted to – although he may have penalised for a potential foul on Marc Guéhi in the build-up if it had gone in.

Guéhi was needed to defend strongly soon after when Calvert-Lewin was released with a ball over the top but the defender did well to make the striker's life difficult.

It took about a half hour before City were even able to get out of their own half and when they did they eventually took the lead just before the break when Rayan Aït-Nouri was released and put in a low ball that Antoine Semenyo finished from close range.

It was Rayan Cherki who had set Aït-Nouri away in the first half but he got lucky in the second when he went unpunished for appearing to deliberately stamp on Ilia Gruev. Referee Peter Bankes wasn't interested and surprisingly neither was VAR.

Leeds continued to push as the second half went on and wanted a penalty late on when Matheus Nunes appeared to handle in the box, albeit accidentally, but again the decision didn't go the home side's way.

Perhaps it was those two incidents that caused Daniel Farke to protest so sternly after the final whistle that he was given a red card. It remains to be seen just what he said to the referee.

Those incidents aside, City managed a 1-0 win despite not being close to their best. The gap to the top of the table is now just two points with Arsenal facing Chelsea on Sunday.

Incidents: The story of the match

1':

The match begins

25':

Missed opportunity! Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United attempted a header from the center of the box, but it went wide to the left. The assist came from Anton Stach, who delivered a cross.

27':

Opportunity wasted. Gabriel Gudmundsson of Leeds United attempted a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area following a corner kick.

Manchester City takes the lead against Leeds United, making it 1-0. Antoine Semenyo scores with a right-footed shot from close range, finding the center of the net. The assist came from Rayan Aït-Nouri, who delivered a precise cross.

45 +2':

GOAL Manchester City: Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) scores!

Antoine Semenyo scores goal number 14 in the competition (27 matches)

50':

Opportunity wasted. Gabriel Gudmundsson from Leeds United attempted a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

53':

Missed opportunity. Omar Marmoush of Manchester City attempted a right-footed shot from the center of the penalty area but failed to convert. The assist came from Matheus Nunes, who delivered a cross.

62':

Opportunity wasted. Rúben Dias from Manchester City took a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide to the left.

62':

Missed opportunity! Omar Marmoush from Manchester City took a left-footed shot from inside the six-yard box but sent it wide to the left. The assist came from Rúben Dias.

67':

Missed opportunity. Rayan Aït-Nouri from Manchester City attempted a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

998':

The referee whistles for the end of the match