The thrilling Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham was enough to put the game on the edge of palpitations at the Etihad Stadium as the former won 3-2
No doubt, the match was full of eventfulness in terms of viewing the brilliance of some of City’s top attackers, such as Mateo Kovacic in scoring the two goals, and how resilient Fulham became by equalizing through a strike by Andreas Pereira and a late goal by Muniz Rodrigo.
Classic Early Action Suspenseful with Fulham Ahead
By then, the match had started to gain a very early, battle-like shape, with two teams trying to hold onto it, but Fulham soon broke the ice. The 26th-minute goal for Andreas Pereira came off an assist provided by Raul Jimenez, which was very clever and a good, well-timed finish from inside the box. That goal excited the visitors, who were hoping for an upset against the reigning champions.
Even though the shock took some time to dawn on, Manchester City regrouped really fast, then began dominating the rest of the game on the field. Their relentless attacking paid when Mateo Kovacic equalized in the 32nd minute by slotting it past Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno from inside the box after a scramble. That goal levelled the game but more importantly shifted the momentum back in City’s favour.
The second half saw the dominance of the city once again
They were much cranked up and focused, though into halftime. Two minutes into the restart, Kovacic scored his second goal in the match, this time in the 47th minute. From a slick buildup, City’s Bernardo Silva played through to Kovacic who finished coolly for his side to go ahead 2-1. The quick turnaround showed how comfortable City was on the attack and made it tough for Fulham to get back into its rhythm.
Fulham, however were not prepared to give up. They went forward with both guns blazing in quest for the equaliser, which almost arrived as early as the 65th minute courtesy Tom Cairney but his chance was to go so close to finding the net, but the City backline was impenetrable. The game was to be ebb and flow in a seesaw fashion as both teams continued to get the chances. Two highly active midfielders throughout, City’s Julian Alvarez and Fulham’s Fabio Carvalho, were two. But it was City who broke the deadlock.
City doubled the lead in the 82nd minute with good Jeremy Doku’s placement, inside from a fine young winger run down the left flank. He cut inside and low-pasted Leno from that position. Fulham had other plans as City seemed to have had a win by full comfort.
But time soon to run out, Fulham staged an impassioned comeback. Substitute Rodrigo Muniz proved to be the equalizer in the 88th, reducing the scoreline to 3-2. His poaching instincts meant he was so ready to pounce on the mistake of the City defense but technically it was a loose ball. He moved onto it, powered a shot through Ederson, sealing the score.
The late goal kindled a sense of urgency in the game due to the desperate need of Fulham to go hunting for an equalizing goal. The last minutes were nerve-wracking, as tension was mounting at both clubs while hunting for their third goal.
The back line of City could do nothing but dig deep and stand firm with their lead now starting to ease.
Match Statistics and Highlights
The match statistics tell how competitive the game is, despite the final whistle blowing in favor of Manchester City. Here, City gained 58% possession, while Fulham took 42%. The home team managed a total of 20 shots with 7 on target, while Fulham had 11 shots and 4 on target. Both teams were eager and ambitious, as they had several yellow cards during the game.
Important Players
Mateo Kovacic was probably Manchester City’s best player in the game, scoring two important goals in a match that enabled him to control midfield against Fulham. The way he broke up for Fulham and thrust himself into offense was key to the team’s chances of winning.
Andreas Pereira had much to say in the first half for Fulham, creating opportunities and scoring the first goal, thereby showing how vital he is for his team. His creativity would also have proven a strong headache to Manchester City backline.
Tactical Battle
Surely one of Pep Guardiola’s strategies, City was controlling the flow of play for large periods, which has not allowed Fulham a single breath during these successive raids. The attacking depth from City has kept Fulham under siege at the back – in other words, Doku and Kovacic, for example.
However, a lot of that against Fulham has paid off, especially in the first half by exploiting the spaces City’s adventurous style has provided. Manager Marco Silva will be pleased by his team spirit and solidity even though they were beaten.
Conclusion
The match ended 3-2 in favor of Manchester City by a reproduction of their claim of earlier times as title contenders in the Premier League. Will this spirited performance now become a stepping stone for games from here onward and show they can indeed challenge even the biggest of sides?.
The two teams will be on high alert with the season progressed as this is sure to be a more stirring and captivating second match for the fans, considering Manchester City’s need to continue on its winning ways as well as for Fulham in its desperate fight to convert efforts to points in subsequent matches.
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