Manchester City 3 Leeds United 2: City survive an almighty scare to pick up three points | OneFootball

Manchester City 3 (Phil Foden 1′, 90+1, Josko Gvardiol 25′,

Leeds United 2 (Dominic Calvert-Lewin 49′, Lukas Nmecha 68′)

Manchester City have survived an almighty scare at the Etihad to pick up a 3-2 win over a dogged and determined Leeds United side at the Etihad Stadium today. Pep Guardiola made nine changes to the starting lineup that performed so poorly against Bayer Leverkusen and for 45 minutes it had the desired affect. But City’s second half performance showed that this City side is nowhere near the finished article. They wilted under a sustained spell of pressure from Leeds after halftime and that is a cause for concern for Pep Guardiola and his team.

First half.

The game had barely begun when Manchester City took the lead. A well-worked City move saw Bernardo Silva and Matheus Nunes combine on the right-hand side of the Leeds penalty area. Bernardo played in Matheus Nunes who had acres of space on the right. Nunes played in a dangerous cross that Phil Foden steered a volley past Leeds United goalkeeper Lucas Perri, which hit the underside of the crossbar to give Pep Guardiola’s side an early lead after 59 seconds.

After Manchester City’s fast start, Leeds did show that they weren’t going to sit back and allow Pep Guardiola’s side to have it their own way. Daniel Farke’s side pressed City high up the pitch in impressive fashion and they did have their moments up until the 13th minute. Although, it must be said, that Leeds didn’t create any significant chances but there was an intent to their play. The threat of City breaking through the Leeds defence loomed large if City could play through the Leeds United press.

Phil Foden almost doubled Manchester City’s lead in the 19th minute. Jeremy Doku, who was looking like Manchester City’s most dangerous attacking player on the pitch, played on Nico O’Reilly on the left. O’Reilly played in a quality ball across the Leeds United penalty area which found Foden at the back post. Foden had Leeds United keeper Lucas Perri beaten but a superb block from James Justin prevented City from doubling their lead.

Lucas Perri denied Phil Foden with a fine save in the 24th minute. Foden played in a quality corner which Josko Gvardiol headed back across the goal. Foden smartly chased up the rebound and unleashed a stinging left-footed strike at goal. Perri dove full stretch to his right to prevent City from making it 2-nil.

Josko Gvardiol gives Manchester City a 2-nil lead in the 25th minute.

Manchester City would double their lead in the 25th minute. Tijjani Reijnders played in a quality corner that Nico O’Reilly got on the end of under pressure from Leeds United keeper Lucas Perri who tried to punch the ball away. The ball fell kindly for Josko Gvardiol who poked the ball home to double City’s lead. A three-minute VAR check for offside and a possible foul by Bernardo Silva on Lucas Perri followed before the goal was awarded. You do wonder if they need to bring a time limit with how long the VAR checks can take as at times they suck the life out of a moment in a match.

After Tijjani Reijnders curled an effort just wide from 25 yards in the 35th minute, Manchester City’s next chance came in the 44th minute. A sustained spell of City pressure, and some desperate Leeds defending denied City a clear-cut opportunity. A desperate Leeds clearance fell to Nico on the edge of the area and his low drive from just outside the area was smartly saved by Lucas Perri. The ball was recycled and Tijjani Reijnders saw a powerful strike blocked behind for a corner as Pep Guardiola’s side pressed to put the game to bed.

Nico O’Reilly would spurn a good chance on the stroke of halftime as his attempted header from a Jeremy Doku cross hit his shoulder and landed safely in the arms of Lucas Perri. That would be the last significant moment of the first half.

Manchester City thoroughly deserved their 2-nil halftime lead. They had dominated Leeds and grew in confidence as the first half wore on. Leeds had their moments but failed to produce any real openings. City would perhaps be frustrated that they only led 2-nil at the interval.

Second half.

Leeds United brought on Dominic Calvert-Lewin at halftime in a bid to get back into the game. They’d have the first real chance of the second half. Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to deal with a high free kick and his punch fell to Ethan Ampadu. Ampadu’s volley was goal-bound but it was blocked by the City defence in the 47th minute.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin gives Leeds a lifeline after City play themselves into trouble.

Leeds United would make it 2-1 in the 49th minute. Matheus Nunes would play a dangerous ball to Phil Foden as City tried to play out from the back. Leeds seized on Nunes’ sloppy pass. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was played in but his touch looked heavy. Matheus Nunes knocked the ball back to Calvert-Lewin who beat Gianluigi Donnarumma with a neat first-time finish to make it 2-1. It was now game on as there was real intent in Leeds’ press and play.

Gianluigi Donnarumma received treatment for an injury in the 56th minute. The break in play allowed Pep Guardiola an opportunity to gather his players for an impromptu team talk. What was clear was that Leeds had rattled City with their play after halftime.

Lukas Nmecha makes it 2-all as City look to be capitulating.

Leeds United would be awarded a penalty in the 65th minute. A long ball was nodded on by Dominic Calvert-Lewin into the path of Jayden Bogle. Bogle played a ball towards Calvert-Lewin and Josko Gvardiol took out the Leeds striker with a rash and poor challenge. Lukas Nmecha would take the spot kick for Leeds. His penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma down to his right but the rebound fell to Nmecha who stroked the ball home into an empty net to make it 2-all. Leeds deserve all the credit in the world for coming back from 2-nil down but City had capitulated. They needed something special to see off a determined and inspired Leeds side.

Following Leeds’ equaliser Manchester City had a spell of possession but didn’t create any real openings. As the game hit the 82nd-minute mark, Leeds began to smell a famous comeback victory. This was typified by the fact that Erling Haaland headed a ball away from his own goal from the six-yard box as Leeds pushed for a winner.

Omar Marmoush would place a header from a good position straight at Lucas Perri in the 89th minute. City were upping the ante but they desperately needed a goal.

Phil Foden restores Manchester City’s lead as Pep Guardiola’s side react to the urgency of the situation.

Manchester City would regain the lesd in the 91st minute through Phil Foden. Rayan Cherki played in a ball across the Leeds United penalty area from the right which found Foden. Foden took a touch and it seemed that the ball had got away from him and the chance was gone. But Foden got onto the ball and fired in a snap shot that avoided a crowd of players and beat Lucas Perri to give City a 3-2 lead. It definitely wasn’t game over as there were still nine minutes remaining in the match after Foden’s goal.

Following Phil Foden’s second goal of the afternoon, Leeds had their chances from set pieces and throw ins but City saw off that threat. Manchester City would claim a 3-2 win and in truth, after how second half unfolded, they were fortunate to walk away with three points.

First thoughts after the final whistle.

Pep Guardiola’s side were fortunate to pick up all three points today. Yes, they dominated the first half, and should have been 3 or 4 goals up. But the second half performance from Leeds United was superb and credit must go to Daniel Farke for changing the game with the introduction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at halftime.

From a City point of view, their second half performance raises more questions then answers. There is a frailty to this City side and Leeds took full advantage of it. It must be rectified as soon as possible. The main thing is that City picked up three points at the Etihad today. But looking ahead there remains plenty to work on for Pep Guardiola and his staff and several of Manchester City’s deficiencies were on full display in the second half.