Premier League
Manchester City 3 (Foden 1’, 90+1’, Gvardiol 25’)
Leeds United 2 (Calvert-Lewin 49’, Nmecha 68’)
City: Donnarumma (GK), Dias, Reijnders (Cherki 75’), Haaland, Doku (Stones 90+6’), Gonzalez, Silva (C) (Marmoush 89’), Gvardiol, Nunes, O’Reilly, Foden.
Subs not used: Trafford (GK), Ake, Ait-Nouri, Savinho, Khusanov, Lewis.
Leeds: Perri (GK), Bogle, Ampadu (C), Struijk, Rodon, James (Calvert-Lewin 45’), Nmecha (Okafor 82’), Tanaka (Aaronson 90+2’), Justin (Gudmundsson 69’), Gnonto (Bijol 45’), Gruev.
Subs not used: Meslier (GK), Piroe, Harrison, Byram.
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Attendance: 55,097
Referee: Peter Bankes
Booked: Nunes, Silva, Gvardiol, Donnarumma (City) Rodon (Leeds)
A spirited Leeds United fell to a narrow 3-2 loss away to Manchester City this afternoon, despite Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha finding the back of the net to level the tie.
Daniel Farke made five changes to his side following defeat to Aston Villa last time out. Ao Tanaka, Ilia Gruev, Dan James, James Justin and Willy Gnonto came into the XI at the Etihad Stadium.
With the first attack of the game, the home side went into the lead. Matheus Nunes found space on the right wing and crossed into the middle, from which Phil Foden volleyed home off the underside of the crossbar.
After a spell of exchanging possession at either end, it was Pep Guardiola’s side who would have the next big chance of the game. A dangerous ball across the box found Foden again, and as he struck on target, a last-ditch block from Justin cleared the danger to deny a second.
Foden was playing a major part in the game and the England international went close again. After whipping a corner in himself, the ball came straight back out to him and he shot first time, forcing Lucas Perri into an excellent save.
However, the following set-play did undo the Whites. Josko Gvardiol was the beneficiary this time as he poked home from close range following a scramble in the box.
The Whites had pushed forward in moments of their own, but they were limited. Gnonto, James and Nmecha linked up, with the former City striker firing over the bar on his left-foot from the edge of the box.
Approaching the interval, Perri made another good stop when he denied Nico Gonzalez’s low effort. Shortly after, Pascal Struijk was the one to get his body in the way, denying Tijjani Reijnders from finding the back of the net.
HALF TIME: Manchester City 2-0 Leeds United
Back out under the rain-soaked turf in Manchester, Farke made two changes during the interval. Jaka Bijol and Calvert-Lewin replaced Gnonto and James, which meant a change of shape for the visitors.
It was the Whites who had the first opening of the second 45 minutes. A deep free-kick into the middle created confusion and fell to Ethan Ampadu on the edge of the box, he struck low and beat Gianluigi Donnarumma but was cleared by a covering body.
Then moments later, Leeds kept coming forward and did find the back of the net! Calvert-Lewin caused chaos in the City backline and stayed alert to a loose ball, before firing home at close range!
Leeds had a good spell on top and the changes, along with the goal, had caused a headache and forced Guardiola to call his team over to the touchline for some intense instructions.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, the pressured kept coming, and paid off once more! Calvert-Lewin was scythed down in the box and a penalty was awarded.
Up stepped Nmecha, who initially saw his spot-kick well saved, but stayed alert and fired home the rebound to equalise and spark jubilant scenes behind the goal!
Further energised following the equaliser, the Whites continued prying hard at the City defence, but the hosts pushed back, descending the clash into end-to-end action.
As the hosts responded to this pressure, Perri demonstrated some more exceptional goalkeeping, keeping Pep Guardiola’s side at bay.
However, as the fixture rode into 10 minutes added time, the Whites were subject to a cruel late goal, again from Foden, who swept home to restore City’s lead.
Another second half substitute in Gabriel Gudmundsson came close to levelling the tie soon after, as the fullback darted down the line and forced a fine, low save from Donnarumma before the danger was cleared.
Bogle then came away with the ball on the right wing, curling a low cross into the box towards Okafor, but narrowly evading the Swiss international before it was plucked away from Gudmundsson at the far post.
However, the clock ticked to the 100th minute without the Whites finding a third, and Peter Bankes blew the full time whistle to signal the end to the clash.
The Whites now return to Elland Road for a Premier League home double-header, taking on Chelsea in midweek and Liverpool at the weekend.
FULL TIME: Manchester City 3-2 Leeds United
