Kristoffer Ajer, in a counterattack by Manchester City, in an open field and after 70 minutes of enduring the siege, went to the ground. He slipped, lost his balance and let Erling Haaland advance like an ocean liner to the Brentford goal and certify Manchester City’s victory (1-0).
The Norwegian took revenge for the disastrous match against Chelsea, in which he shot ten times without success, and, although he did not have a great game against Brentford either, his solitary goal served to avoid the second consecutive setback and return to the ‘ Sky Blues’ hunt for Liverpool.
Jürgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta licked their lips for more than 70 minutes thinking about a draw for City at home against a surprising Brentford who, despite receiving four from the ‘Reds’ at home on Saturday, managed to reduce City’s chances and handcuff them until Ajer’s slip condemned them.
Thomas Frank’s men won both duels against City last season and already made them suffer a lot two weeks ago, when Martin Flekken, with twelve saves, despaired a team that needed a hat trick from Phil Foden to unbalance the balance.
This time the siege was less, except for a stretch in the first half in which Bernardo Silva, with a header, Manuel Akanji, with a shot into the top corner, and Oscar Bobb, with a shot after feint that he took on the goal line Ben Mee, they had it 1-0.
City could not find a way to score a goal, while Brentford went on the counterattack, but attempts by Frank Oyenka and Yoane Wissa came to nothing against Ederson.
With the minute hand squeezing City, who if they didn’t win they would lose the option of depending on themselves to win the Premier League, even if there is still a world left, they needed a miracle in the form of a slip so that this didn’t end in drama.
In an attack by Brentford, City recovered on the balcony of their area, the ball reaching Rodri, who quickly provided continuity for Julián Álvarez in the center of the field. The Argentine looked in space for Haaland who threw the race at Ajer, who slipped and began to fall while the Norwegian was already escaping.
Haaland, in a play that already characterizes him, reached Flekken, adjusted his body showing his right leg, and finished low. Signature goal and disaster solved.
The Norwegian would score a second, in an excellent combination with Rodri and Kyle Walker, but the goal was disallowed due to the side’s offside.
With the victory, City rises to second position, with 56 points, one more than Arsenal and one more than Liverpool. The three teams are tied on matches, but this will be broken this Wednesday when the ‘Reds’ face Luton Town at Anfield.
– Datasheet:
1 – Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Slide, Stones; Rhodri, Silver, Foden; Bobb (Doku, m.60), Alvarez (Kovacic, m.89) and Haaland.
0 – Brentford: The Flake; Roerslev (Ghoddos, m.89), Zanka, Ajer, Mee, Reguilon (Jensen, m.78); Onyeka (Damsgaard, m.89), Norgaard, Janelt (Lewis-Potter, m.78); Toney and Wissa (Maupay, m.68).
Goals: 1-0. Haaland, m.71.
Referee: Darren England cautioned Stones (m.45+2) and Walker (m.83) for Manchester City and Mee (m.45+2), Wissa (m.60) and Toney (m.68) for part of Brentford.
Incidents: Match corresponding to matchday 18 of the Premier League – which was postponed due to Manchester City’s participation in the Club World Cup – played at the Etihad Stadium (Manchester). EFE
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