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With a game remaining, Man City came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat Brentford 3-1 thanks to a masterfully crafted hat-trick from Phil Foden. With this victory, the team is now just two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Brentford took the lead thanks to a goal from Neal Maupay after 21 minutes, but Foden equalized just before halftime and added two more fantastic goals as the visitors took charge with yet another elegant possession and probing game. This was against nearly continuous pressure from the City.
Liverpool leads the table with 51 points from 23 games after losing to Arsenal on Sunday, although City is up to 49 from 22 and Arsenal is at 49 from 23.
Foden was described by City manager Pep Guardiola as having always had an eye for a goal. He has now played in 250 games and has contributed goals this season. He is amazing.
They are a very formidable foe, but I believe we deserved it. Their keeper was outstanding, and we had plenty of opportunities.
Surprisingly, Brentford defeated City twice in the previous campaign, winning 2-1 at the Etihad in November and overcoming them 1-0 in London in May, when the title was already certain.
After the one-sided opening exchanges on Monday, when Brentford keeper Mark Flekken twice denied curling attempts by Julian Alvarez and Kyle Walker, another victory appeared improbable.
However, it was Brentford who took the lead thanks to a Sunday football goal from Flekken, which Nathan Ake was unable to stop despite Ivan Toney’s pressure. After 21 minutes, Maupay had a clear run at goal and tucked the ball into the bottom corner with ease.
While on loan at Brentford, Maupay has scored five goals in the previous five games in all competitions. Prior to joining Everton, he was unable to purchase a goal.
Erling Haaland had an opportunity to equalize right away, but Flekken saved with his foot once more before stopping Josko Gvardial from scoring another.
Following a string of corner kicks, Brentford produced the amazing sight of nine of their players filling the six-yard box, with just one outfield player from each team taking up the remaining ninety meters of grass.
However, they were in vain as Foden scored City’s equalizer in stoppage time of the first half by seizing a flimsy clearance header, coolly chesting the ball down and brushing it in with his team’s 17th attempt on goal of the half.
In the 53rd minute, Kevin de Bruyne’s exquisite cross was chipped in for the unmarked midfielder to glance in, and it was the ever-elusive Foden who gave them the lead again.
After a one-two with Haaland in the 70th minute, Foden finished calmly to complete his treble. Enthusiastic Brentford did make a flurry of attempts, but City handled them.
The comeback wasn’t shocking because Brentford is the poorest team in the league at letting leads slip, having done so in three of City’s previous away league games even after falling behind. This season, Brentford has lost just 26 points due to this phenomenon.
After losing seven of their previous eight league games, Brentford has managed to pick up three points, moving them up to 15th place, three points clear of the relegation zone.
Manager Thomas Frank stated, “We did a lot of things right, and it was a good performance overall.”
“In the first half we defended very well and limited them to shots outside the box, but in the second half they got a tiny bit of space and that made the difference.”
Credits: Reuters
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