Manchester City defeated Chelsea to return to the top four.
Erling Haaland punished a costly mistake from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to net the decisive goal in Manchester City’s victory, propelling the defending champions back into the Premier League’s top four.
The crucial moment came when Sanchez was caught out of position after attempting to intercept Ederson’s long ball forward. Scrambling to recover, Sanchez found himself beaten as Haaland outmuscled Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah. Showing his trademark composure, Haaland shifted the ball to his left foot and expertly chipped the retreating keeper, securing his 18th league goal of the season and his sixth in six matches across all competitions.
City’s victory was sealed late on when Phil Foden latched onto Haaland’s layoff and slotted home in the 87th minute, marking Foden’s fifth goal in four games and wrapping up a clinical display from Pep Guardiola’s side.
The win extended City’s unbeaten league streak to six matches and saw Ederson achieve a rare feat—becoming the first goalkeeper in 16 years to register two assists in a single Premier League season.
However, the match did not begin smoothly for City, as debutant Abdukodir Khusanov endured a nightmare start. Just three minutes in, his defensive error allowed Chelsea to take the lead. Khusanov misjudged a header deep in City’s half, gifting the ball to Nicolas Jackson, who squared it to Noni Madueke for a simple tap-in.
City responded quickly, dominating possession and creating chances. Phil Foden struck the post, and Omar Marmoush had a goal ruled out before Josko Gvardiol equalized. Gvardiol pounced on a rebound after Sanchez had parried Matheus Nunes’ shot, bringing City level.
Chelsea, who initially looked dangerous, missed a golden opportunity to double their lead early on when Cole Palmer’s pass to Jackson narrowly missed its target. As the game progressed, their attacking threat waned, and they failed to mount a serious comeback after Haaland’s goal.
The loss leaves Chelsea winless in their last 11 meetings with City, while Guardiola’s side looks to build momentum in their push for the title. Despite rotating his squad, Guardiola’s tactical adjustments kept Chelsea at bay, leaving Enzo Maresca’s men frustrated and searching for solutions.
SOURCE: BBC
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