- Manchester City turned out to be slightly better in the away game than Newcastle United
- Seven goals have been scored at St James’ Park, three of which were scored by Ferran Torres
- The hosts decided to honor the new champion of the country. Citizens leaving the pitch were greeted by a traditional lane
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After Manchester United’s defeat to Leicester City, The Citizens players made sure that no one would take the championship from them this season. Already in the previous round, in the prestigious match against Chelsea, which was a foretaste of the Champions League final, Pep Guardiola decided on an experimental team setup. In the game against Newcastle United there was also some reshuffle in the squad, although the ranking of the guests looked very effective anyway.
The favorites took the initiative from the start and tried to open up the score quickly. Martian Dubravki was hit by Nathan Ake, Gabriel Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan and Torres, but neither of them managed to steer the ball into the net. However, it was very unexpectedly successful for the hosts, who in the 26th minute took the lead from Emil Krafth’s accurate header. The Swede took advantage of Jonjo Shelvey’s cross from the corner.
Less than ten minutes later, Citizens could be losing 0: 2. After Ake’s foul from the free kick, Shelvey hit the bar well, but he hit the crossbar. Shortly after that, the unused opportunity took revenge on the popular Magpies. Joao Cancelo shot from the corner of the penalty area, the ball bounced off Jacob Murphy and surprised the obstructed Dubravka.
After three more minutes, the Manchester players were in the lead. Gundogan crossed the free kick and Torres showed a phenomenal heel strike from the air. Just before the break, the locals had a chance to equalize, but for the second time they hit the crossbar instead of the goal. This time Joelinton made a slight mistake. Moments later, the same player fell in the opponents’ penalty area. The referee, after a long analysis of the VAR, awarded “eleven”, and the injured person swapped it for a goal, leading to a draw.
In the first quarter of an hour after the change of sides on the pitch not much happened, but in the 61st minute the hosts received a second penalty. Kyle Walker fouled Joseph Willock, who himself decided to hit from 11 meters. Midfielder Magpies lost their duel with Scott Carson, wasted a penalty but managed to finish his shot.
The whole situation infuriated the Citizens, who almost immediately responded with a goal. Torres got a great pass from Gabriel Jesus for five meters and did not give Dubravka a chance. Moments later, Guardiola’s players … scored another goal. Cancelo fired from a distance and hit the post, and Torres smashed the ball into the empty goal, scoring a hat trick.
From then on, the pace of the game slowed. City did not have to attack anymore and Newcastle was unable to break through the visitors’ defense. In the last quarter of an hour, Pep Guardiola’s players calmly controlled the pace of the game and did not allow their opponents to create a threat. At the end of the game, Torres made another threat, but this time he hit one of his rivals. Ultimately, the result did not change and the game ended with a 4: 3 victory for Manchester.
Newcastle – Manchester City 3:4 (2:2)
Goals: Emil Krafth (26), Joelinton (45 + 6-carny), Joseph Willock (62) – Joao Cancelo (39), Ferran Torres (42, 64, 66)
Yellow cards: Ritchie, Shelvey – Rodri, Cancelo
Judged: Kevin Friend (Anglia)
Newcastle: Dubravka – Murphy, Krafth, Fernandez (88. Gayle), Dummett, Ritchie (84. Longstaff) – Willock, Shelvey, Almiron – Saint-Maximin, Joelinton (84. Lewis).
Manchester City: Carson – Walker, Garcia, Ake, Cancelo (74. Mendy) – Silva, Rodri, Gundogan – Torres, Jesus, Sterling.
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